Chapter 2

Doni was growing bored.

"Man, I wish he would come to duel sooner." He remarked lazily.

Presently, he was sitting by the dock's edge with a fishing pole, occasionally eating some bite-sized sandwiches that were generously provided by the hotel staff.

"Mmm! These sandwiches are good. I need to make the chefs back in Italy learn how to make these." Doni smiled.

He knew a battle with the new Campione was imminent.

"It's a shame, he seems like such a nice guy. Well I'll still have to kill him anyways." Doni let out cheerfully.

His main goal had really been to kill all other Campiones but he became lazy in his objective as time went on. It was only when he heard about Godou and John Pluto Smith having lost to the newest Campione that a renewed vigor pumped in his veins.

"Well if I'm going to kill him I guess I have to make some preparations." He looked around and decided.

"The beach it is then. I don't think he'll mind."

As he flung the last bite-sized sandwich in his mouth and walked over to a clear path of sand, he smiled.

"You probably know about this authority" Doni remarked with a smirk as red magical energy started to pour into the ground. "But I doubt you'll be prepared for the new one!"

"So did you get all of that?" Godou asked.

"Yes! To the letter! Hopefully this'll work." Ernesto replied.

"Don't worry, if it's that idiot Doni we're talking about, he'll have to agree." Godou replied calmly.

"Alright! Now things are settled!" Ernesto smiled.

"Ahem! You'll still have worry about winning the duel with him Ernesto." Annie added.

"Yeah Ernesto. While he may be an idiot, Doni isn't one to look down on. Are you sure you're prepared?" Godou asked.

"Hmmm… to be honest you guys I'm not. From what you've told me about your battles with him, the dual authorities of Man of Steel and Ripping Arm of Silver form a very formidable coupling of offense and defense."

"I know that your Quetzalcoatl authorities would be limited against him but couldn't you use the others? I know that Steel often bends to the will of sun gods that melt steel." Annie asked.

On the other line, Godou shook his head. "Remember that he was able to withstand my White Stallion Authority. And being resilient as he is, I'm sure he'll find a way to counter it."

"If only you knew what your new Authority did, Ernesto." Annie commented.

A troubled expression appeared on Godou's face. "Wait you don't know what kind of Authority you gained?"

"Yeah" Ernesto said scratching his head. He closed his eyes.

"I am able to see the sigil of Authority but I don't know what it does. Unlike most of my other Authorities, which were explained to me or that I innately understood, this one is different. Like…it has.."

Before Ernesto continued he shook his head. It was a silly idea. "..well never mind. Thanks Godou."

"No problem!" Godou answered.

*Click* With the call over, he got up and started walking to the door.

"Wait?! You're leaving?!" Annie asked in surprise.

"Yes. Since we're out of ideas I might as well go face him now while all of this information is fresh in my mind."

"Right now?! But the sun's about to go down! Why don't you wait until tomorrow and stay here for the night?" Annie offered.

Yet as soon as she realized what she said, her face became red but she fought her embarrassment.

"Jeje thanks Annie but I'd rather go now. Let Laura know for me okay." He requested as he waved goodbye.

As he closed the door on the crestfallen Annie, he softly whispered, "Plus your wine enamored eyes betray your intentions silly."

With a gust of wind, he teleported away.

Annie sighed. She began to wonder if there was anything she could do to offer as some sort of appeasement for Lord Salvatore.

"Tsk the only thing he'd probably value would be a good sword." She complained.

But just as she said that an idea began to dawn on her.

"A good sword…"

Ernesto had teleported outside. He pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Hello? Tony? How's progress going? Do they know?" Ernesto asked.

As the voice on the other line gave their responses, Ernesto's eyes widened and then a smile formed on his face.

"No that's okay. Let them try. Call me if anything changes." *Click*

As the cold Los Angeles air began to move in, Ernesto's eyes glimmered with excitement. "This is going to make things interesting. But first…"

And with a gust of wind he was gone.

"Man when is he going to show up?" Doni remarked with boredom as he looked out at the sunset.

A gust of wind blew and a voice called out. "How about right now?"

Doni looked up with an excited smile. "So you're the new Campione huh?"

Ernesto took a bow. "Ernesto Juárez, in the flesh."

"Doni Salvatore, it's great to finally meet you!" Doni shook his hand with a strong grip.

"Oh would you want some of these?" He lifted up the plate of mini-sandwiches to Ernesto.

"Oh thank you!" Ernesto replied, taking a couple and popping them in his mouth.

"Yeah I can't get enough of these. Well are you ready?" Doni asked with a smirk.

"I'm ready if you are." Ernesto gave a mischievous grin.

"I like you're thinking. Follow me." Doni requested as he started walking down the coastline.

"Wait…where are we going?" Ernesto asked.

To our battle ground. We don't want to tear this nice beach apart now do we? I've grown fond of it. I might come back here later on." Doni remarked.

Doni carried his trademark open blue collar shirt with grey slacks. Slung around his back was a large case wrapped in a soft red silk.

"That must be his sword." Ernesto thought.

"So I heard you beat Godou and John Pluto Smith. Is that right?" Doni questioned.

"Well…no. I backed down in the end. Can't have two playmates like that go away now can I?"

"Oh really? Man and here I thought someone had actually beaten Godou. That's my rival for you. Hmmmm…I still haven't been able to fight that Smith guy." Doni shrugged his shoulders. "I'll get to him after you then. He lives in Los Angeles right? I might as well go after this."

"Hohoho someone is confident they're gonna win."

Doni turned around grinning. "Well I was hoping you'd be a challenge but you don't seem like much."

Ernesto eyes lit up with defiance. "Would you like me to prove you wrong?"

Doni smile widened. "I would love that!"

Yet just as he was about to reach for his case, Ernesto interrupted. "Ahh wait wait. Sorry I forgot. I need to talk to you first."

"Huh? Can't we just fight first and talk later?" Doni responded with his head tilted to the side.

"No no no I have to speak first. Doni, what is your goal in fighting me?" Ernesto asked.

"Hmmm…well to kill you or be killed by you. That's pretty much it." He stated nonchalantly.

"Quite honest I see. Well how about a little wager then?"

"What kind of wager?" Doni remarked with an empty expression.

Ernesto smiled. "If I can defeat you but not kill you, will you join my Campione Alliance?"

"A Campione Alliance? Why? Shouldn't we be killing each other instead? So we can face off against that one powerful god that Godou fought a while ago? I mean it'd be a pain to fight a guy like that. Last time I survived but he wasn't at full power."

"So you mean you don't want to fight a Heretic God at full power? I thought you were a Campione? Well I guess you're not strong enough to face a tough guy like that."

Doni smiled. "Are you trying to provoke me?"

"Well I mean I've heard a lot about you. And if Godou could defeat the King of the End, I would've thought you could but if you don't think you can I guess I should just withdraw my offer."

"Well it would be fun but it'd be an even more fun challenge to kill all the other Campiones first." Doni remarked as he began to think.

"Yes, a real idiot." Ernesto thought to himself. "I guess I have no other choice but that then."

"Look let me be honest with you. I want to fight the King of the End at his full power."

At this, Doni looked up with interest.

"My blood boils with excitement at the possibility of facing a foe that towers in strength above all of us." Ernesto's magical energy began to rise as he revealed a vicious grin.

"To face a foe that could prove an insurmountable challenge to even us Campione is enticing! The fact that Godou was able to defeat him makes me yearn to fight him more. To feel the thrill of combat against something we can't win against. To remember what it was like…to be completely vulnerable."

"Like when we were humans facing gods huh?" Doni smiled.

Ernesto looked at Doni. "If you can provide me with that thrill then come! If not then join me in facing that unattainable challenge!"

Doni finally unfurled his case. "Hahahaha! I like your spirit! Fine! I'll agree to your wager!"

Pulling out his sword he yelled "Now let's make this fun!"

Doni launched forward brandishing his sword.

*CLANG* Ernesto intercepted with his summoned Maquahuitl.

"That's an interesting weapon. But I don't think you'll be able to match my sword!"

Doni's began to raise his magical energy but Ernesto reacted quickly.

"No you don't!" He shouted.

He slid the blade downwards and quickly turned around swinging the Maquahuitl.

*Clang* Doni's reflexes kicked in, blocking the swing with his sword squared against the blow.

"Hehe you're not that bad." He swung the sword against the club, pushing Ernesto away. "But I think it's time to get serious."

He lowered his sword, letting it dangle in his right hand. His breathing slowed and he became calm. His eyes closed and he walked forward.

"So this is the technique of the famed swordsman Campione. One in which he enters the state of nothingness?" Ernesto whispered.

The sword was a normal piece of equipment. Nothing like the weapons that Godou's entourage summoned. Still he knew that in Doni's hands, it was dangerous.

With a quick step, the sword disappeared.

"Squared Haste!" Ernesto called out. He quickly turned his face and jumped away, but he wasn't fast enough! A small gash opened on his right cheek.

"Oh. I didn't know you had a speed authority?" Doni remarked with surprise.

"I don't. Tell me Doni, have you bothered to learn any magic?" Ernesto asked.

"Not really. I don't have the talent for even the most super basic levels of magic." Doni replied with a shameless smile. "But how did you do that?"

"Jeje well unlike most of our kin, I decided to learn some useful magical abilities. But it appears that my speed won't help me avoid that pesky sword. Tch!" Ernesto smiled.

"Hehe what's so funny my friend?" Doni continued to walk toward Ernesto.

"I'm guessing you're one of the few Campiones who can use the mind's eye to counter godspeed, am I correct?"

"Yeps! No one can get past my sword with speed." Then he looked up pensively. "There was that one time that a monkey surpassed godspeed though." He turned his eyes back to Ernesto. "Well that's enough talking. Let's get back to the action shall we?"

Doni made a quick jump and his sword disappeared again. But this time…

*CLANG* "Huh?" Doni asked dumbfounded.

Ernesto had successfully redirected the swing. His eyes glowed bright yellow.

After a slight pause, Doni resumed his swing. He swung making three separate diagonal, horizontal and vertical strikes.

*CLANG CLANG CLANG* Doni's eyes widened with shock. Ernesto had redirected all of them!

"Say…how did you do that?" Doni wondered.

"Did you think you were the only one who could combat speed? If you beat me, I'll tell you." Ernesto replied.

Despite having blocked Doni's strikes, Ernesto's face showed sweat running down his face. Those swings had been close. To close for comfort.

"Hehe then let's make this serious then." Doni's magical energy rose and he began to chant "O Sword that pierces enemies with but a single swing. For the sake of plundering all life from creation, shine with brilliance!"

Doni's right arm became shrouded in silver and magical energy enveloped the blade.

"Play time is over!" He dashed towards Ernesto and made four slashes.

*Swish* *Swash* *Slish* *Slauch*

"Urgh!" Ernesto cried out. The last slash made a cut on his chest. His eyes glowed green.

"The King of the Tautha Dé Danann lost an arm against the Fir Bolg champion Sreng. He was removed from the throne by Tautha Dé tradition of having a king with a perfect body."

Another four strikes! Ernesto twisted his body and his Maquahuitl, redirecting two but getting slashed in the forehead and sternum by the last two strikes. Pain began to run across his body as his eyes glowed green again.

"He regained kinship when his arm was replaced with a silver one but fell to Fomorian Balor of the Evil Eye." Ernesto smiled.

"Is that it?!" Doni cried out laughing as he prepared a killing swing.

"From gentle breeze to violent gale, my enemies shall cower before me. Grant unto me the invulnerability of the wind and a million opportunities to strike!"

A huge hurricane manifested and Ernesto disappeared.

"Hoho, now things are getting more fun!" Doni yelled out as the winds began to whip at his clothes.

He closed his eyes and using his mind's eye began sensing everything around him. He then sensed Ernesto materializing in front of him, swinging his weapon. He raised his arm to block.

"Agggh!" Doni's eyes opened wide as pain shot across his back. Suddenly, Ernesto had teleport behind him and slash his back.

"Ha so you don't have godspeed. You have teleportation abilities." Doni let out as he slightly winced at as he straightened his back which held the gash.

Ernesto reappeared a few feet in front of him. "Is that a problem?"

"Well it does make it harder for me to use my mind's eye to strike you. I can focus on a single raindrop and cut it in half but I've never had the raindrop teleport before."

He raised his sword and said "You could've killed me you know?"

"A bet is a bet" Ernesto replied.

"Such a shame. Now you won't be able to hurt me at all!" As he spoke, Norse runes began to surround him.

Ernesto dashed at Doni, brandishing his Maquahuitl. Doni did a series of strikes just as Ernesto evaded and swung against Doni's body from the side.

*BONG* He felt as if he hit a pillar of pure reinforced steel. His body shook from the impact. Doni quickly swung but Ernesto teleported away.

*CLANG* *BONG* *CLUNK* Ernesto kept teleporting and swinging, trying to find a weak spot but each time he swung, he would feel the reverberation of striking steel in his bones.

"That darn Authority needs to go!" Ernesto yelled in frustration. He teleported behind Doni for a quick strike.

*SMASH* Doni had used his elbow to smash Ernesto.

"Yeearrrghh!" Ernesto yelled out as he felt the force of the blow, his bones breaking. He was flung and smashed into the trees.

"That's the problem with teleportation." Doni spoke as he turned towards Ernesto. "After a while you become very predictable."

Ernesto stumbled out of the woods and fell to the ground.

"You know" He let out. "Godou-san said that I should find a way to deal with your sword authority first."

He stood up with great difficulty, legs shaking.

"But I really don't like that Protection of Steel you have. It's like cheating."

Doni saw that Ernesto's eyes were glowing green.

"So we'll have to take care of that first!"

He lunged and teleported. Doni thrust forward, plunging his sword into Ernesto as he reappeared.

"Man that was fun. Though I thought you were a guy who made plans like Godou." Doni commented.

Ernesto's head was lowered as he grabbed the Doni's wrist which held the sword hilt, his own arm hanging by his side. He was coughing up blood.

"But I guess you aren't." Doni looked with a seemingly disappointed face.

Ernesto began to laugh. "What do you mean?" He looked up at Ernesto with glowing green eyes and a smile. "This is a part of the plan."

The winds intensified and both of the Campiones teleported above the clouds. They then began to fall.

Ernesto teleported away from the sword, raised his Maquahuitl and began to say spell words.

"Your authority arises from a legendary hero in Norse mythology. He is known by many names, but the main root of his name, Sig, keeps the same meaning, Victory!"

His Maquahuitl began to glow with light.

"Born from the hero Sigmund, Siegfried was tempted many times by the corrupt Regin. He is then convinced to avenge the murder of his father Hreidmar and his betrayal by his brother, Fafnir. He slayed Fafnir, who had been cursed and transformed into a dragon."

The Maquahuitl begins to shine brighter and starts to extend.

"Words of power just like Godou's huh? Well I'm sure I can take care of that!"

He began to charge energy into his magical sword and it extended a great length, rivaling Ernesto's Maquahuitl.

"Siegfried was advised to dig a pit for Fafnir to fall in, while a disguised Odin advised him to dig trenches to drain the blood and to bathe in it after killing the dragon."

Doni swung but Ernesto teleported up beyond his reach. Yelling downwards, Ernesto continued.

"He is able to kill the dragon and bathe in its blood granting him the gift of invulnerability. His earliest representations of his legend come from the pictorial form from seven runestones!"

Doni began to panic. He charged magical energy into his sword. "O Sword, shining bright, release flames!" Scorching heat and shockwaves were generated as an explosion tore the sky.

From the smoke, Ernesto came swinging down his Maquahuitl of light.

"Woe be unto you Siegfried, that you betray your father's fragments. That you use not the reborn sword of Gram but a sword of another! End your shame and submit!"

"Hoho! Facing such a weapon I must commit myself fully!" The protective runes around him vanished and he spoke, "I forbid the existence of things I cannot cut!"

His sword began to glow and he continued. "I hereby swear, I shall sever your weapon putting my full strength on the line!"

He raised his titanic sword over his head and swung.

Yet Ernesto had prepared for this. "Cursed be you who stands on the throne, Who once were righteous, now corrupt. Your time of rule is at its end!"

He quickly teleported. Now he was to Doni's right side, swinging downwards towards his body, evading his overhead swing.

"Feel my justice that knocks down the divine!"

Doni's eyes widened as he had no choice but to call upon his authority. "O blood of the evil dragon Fafnir, bestow upon me the fate of invulnerability!"

*CRAASH*

A huge shockwave spread across the beach with a deafening sound. As the smoke cleared, Doni got up with some bruises and cuts.

"It was even able to bypass my silver arm to get to me huh? That's one hell of an Authority you have Ernesto." Doni complimented.

"Though at this point, I don't think you'll be able to do much." He said as he slowly strolled towards the Eighth Campione.

Ernesto was in bad shape. The cuts on his body were bleeding profusely. The stabbing wound in his abdomen burned and sent a terrible pain throughout his body. He was in a terrible situation.

Now Doni was within striking distance. With his sword wielding arm dangling by his side, he spoke.

"Well this was fun. Now let's see if you can survive my sword."

Doni then began to extend his sword into a huge blade.

"Hahaha try to escape this!" The sword began a downwards swing.

Ernesto smiled. "You can't expect me to be this easy now, do you?"

As Doni swung and the sword disappeared, Ernesto yelled out "Cubed Haste!"

Time slowed down around him, he saw the incoming sword and jumped sideways to avoid the slash, yet the attacked continued.

Doni step forward and stabbed but Ernesto twisted his injured body, avoiding it.

Doni flicked the sword upwards and drove it down while Ernesto barely managed to step away. The spell was causing aching pain to flare up in his heart.

Using all of his remaining energy, he made a great leap backwards.

With blood floating out of his wounds, Ernesto began to chant.

"For I am the strongest that upholds empires, blood of my enemies fuels my power…"

A plethora of rainbow colored feathers began to quickly shroud him.

"Ruler of the pantheon, bastion of Victory, I face all enemies before me."

Doni swung the sword upwards once again as a ball of feathers covered Ernesto. A painful head ache started to manifest.

"I am the light from the darkest of nights! I will show you the terror that is my flame!"

Doni's gigantic sword came hurtling downwards upon the ball. Just as it was about to slice, the ball exploded.

*CLINCH*

"Hohoho! Impressive!" Doni remarked.

Ernesto had taken on the form of the Aztec Warrior, his blue skin glistening in the moonlight. He had clapped his hands together and stopped the falling blade. His wounds had been seared shut by the blue flames that enveloped him.

He pressed downwards with his swing. But the blade did not budge.

"You know Doni, there is something very important about your authority, the Ripping Arm of Silver…" Ernesto spoke in a gnarled voice. The wind was dying down, Ernesto was trying to put his Divine Hurricane Authority on standby to lessen the pain in his head.

As Doni tried to pull his blade away, Ernesto continued.

"You gained the authority from the Heretic God Nuadha. What is important to know is how he came to be killed. There was an uprising by the Fomorians, led by Bres, to retake the kingship from Nuadha. In the second Battle of Mag Tuired, Naudha was killed and beheaded by the Fomorian, Balor of the Evil Eye."

Blue flames began to circle around Ernesto as Doni began pouring energy into his huge sword.

"Why is that important?" Doni yelled out as he tried to force the blade downwards. The strain could be seen on his face.

"Balor was god of many things but one of his main embodiments was of drought. Drought which is caused by the ever punishing sun that denies its people reprieve. It is said that the destructive power of his evil eye scorched the land with heat and flames."

The blue flames around Ernesto began to glow brighter as his hands also began to heat up the sword.

"But Balor was defeated by a god of steel! So you still are at a disadvantage. And seeing that form, I realize that you defeated Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war. A god who fell to the power of steel!" Doni replied with confidence as he pressed down and began to push the blade down making Ernesto start to strain.

"True but you are forgetting one thing…" Ernesto smiled as the sword began to creak under the pressure from both combatants. "The one who slew Balor was your successor, the hero Lugh. Lugh is often equated not only as a god of steel but also as a god of the sun. You are not the Steel that defeats the fire. You are Steel that is destroyed and overcome by the flame!"

Saying this, Ernesto twisted his body. The sword, under the pressure of both the strength of the Aztec Warrior and the great heat of the blue flames, broke apart.

After a stunning silence, Doni spoke.

"Man that surprised me! Nobody has thought of breaking my sword before. Hahaha Ernesto you sure are a fun guy!"

"So does that mean you will concede defeat?"

"Hahaha of course not!" Doni smiled as he began to glow red with magical energy.

"It just means that I've actually been backed up to a corner. Something that hasn't been done in a while. Now let me take a gamble and see if this'll work!"

The ground began to shake as red light began to shoot out from the ground.

Ernesto's eyes were wide with shock. "What is this?...Wait…you can't mean…"

"O priestess of Bacchus – Summon the divine child. Rendered drunk by the violent god's wine, home abandoned, wandering in the mountains. Worship and serve us gods!"

Ernesto felt the flames becoming wild and growing in power. His body began to pulse as blood flooded his muscles. His body twisted and began to contort from the power.

"Gaaaah! This…is…TOO MUCH POWER!" Ernesto let out in pain.

With a final yell, he released the stored up energy, creating a scorching inferno that blasted outwards in every direction.