Immoral Saint
High school DxD x Campione!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 4 Tide of Destiny part 2
"Is this the place?"
It had been hours. After finishing up the huge monkeys Issei had followed the road, now he was standing in front of the resort.
On the way he didn't see any Divine Beast, and he wondered if they knew about his powers and wished to not fight him. Then again, what if they had reported back to Sun Wu Kong? Issei didn't want to deal with 3 Gods at the same time, he wanted to avoid those supernatural beings as much as he could.
'The power of dragons, a curse and a blessing power.'
Because of his dragon powers he was able to protect his precious ones, but at the same time those powers made him meet many powerful beings.
For someone who just wanted a normal life with his harem, the power of dragons didn't not suit him. Maybe Succubus? Right, Succubus would suit him more.
Had Issei taken more time to learn, he would know what the different between Incubus and Succubus is.
Issei thought about Asherah as his legs took him to his destination. What should he do? One of the Campione wanted to confirm her death.
Issei would like to save the girl if he could. He saw it, the loneliness and pain in her eyes, beside the hatred and murderous intent.
'She... looks like someone... someone I know.'
Her image flashed back in Issei's mind. He quickly discarded it, now wasn't the time for that. He needed to get to the resort, find Kusanagi and his team. Then somehow convince him to let Issei take back Asherah before he slay the Monkey King.
It was a hard task, a mission that required Issei's brain force. Nevertheless, he would do it.
'Beside, what to do with Guinevere's words.'
Earlier, before Issei stepped into the town, Guinevere called him. When he was at her hideout he received a medal for communication, it was like a cellphone using magic to run.
Issei recalled the call from a hour ago.
'Abandon Asherah!? Why!? I can do something to save her! She sent me the messenger!'
'Asherah is going to die, Guinevere fears even with Sir Ise and Madame Ophis powers Asherah cannot be saved. Asherah must be in panic when she sent the messenger.'
'Guinevere, back at the beach, I saw her wound mending themselves back. She can be saved!'
'Sir Ise, Asherah had broken her seal, it's her choice. Please accept her choice. Also, Sir Ise shall see Asherah in the future, she will reborn again. Guinevere promises this to Sir Ise.'
Issei was torn between the hard facts and his own reason. According to Guinevere Asherah couldn't be saved. Issei had hoped he could do something for the young girl (?), but now the chance was gone.
'If I abandon her, I don't need to convince Kusanagi-san and his team, along with Annie-san. I can just simply go away after giving my farewell. Then, what is the kind of hero who cannot save a girl?'
Issei kept asking himself the last line. He kept asking himself that question while following the road, until he finally arrived at the resort Erica Blandelli told him about.
He didn't know that he had forced himself to be a hero.
'Maybe I should take a rest first to clear my head.'
He wanted to enjoy a bath and a good meal, then a good sleep. Speaking of which, he should secretly call out Ophis and enjoy the relax together with her.
"Hyoudou-san!?"
Someone was calling him. It was Kusanagi, beside him was Annie. They were the Campione, the God-slayers of this world.
"Are you okay!? Did the Divine Beasts harm you?"
"I'm fine Kusanagi-san. I was … able to escape."
[You will tell him the truth when you are strong enough?]
'Hell no! I will avoid fighting with them as long as I can!'
"You impress me. To be able to escape at least 5 Divine Beasts with strength on par with dragons."
'Annie-san, Ddraig-san and Albion-san will be sad if you compare their race to those monkeys.'
Those monkeys were as weak as hell. Issei had finished them so quick that he thought there were no opponents, just like the Midgardsormr spawns in the battle with Loki, just like when he fought the Grim Reapers.
"About earlier, sorry, I put a burden on you."
Kusanagi bowed down his head a little. Issei felt surprise, if this young God-slayer could admit apologize to him like this, it would make him a responsibility person. A nice and modest person indeed.
"It's fine Kusanagi-san, I'm glad that no one got hurt. You are strong too! You destroyed the Divine Beast with your big black boar."
"Ha Ha, It was nothing. Since you're okay, why don't we get back to the resort? We will have dinner together."
Kusanagi seemed … too excited? He should be more happy if there were only beautiful females eating dinner with him?
Issei made a thought, he couldn't bring Ophis to this place if Kusanagi and Annie were there. If only the girls were there, then they wouldn't be noticed if Ophis hid her presence well.
'Oh well, I will invite Ophis later when I'm free.'
Right, he would invite Ophis to a vacation with his Gremory team when they returned home.
As Kusanagi leaded Issei to the inn they were staying he noticed unusual scenes, even if perhaps they should be normal in this circumstance.
"Those monkeys, they were once human, right?"
Issei pointed at the chaos-causing group of many monkeys on the street and in the shops. There were crazy things here and there, in Issei's eyes this was a horrible act: turning normal people into a group of mindless animals, was this what a god enjoy doing?
'This is so unlike what Guinevere told me about gods.'
From what he could remember Gods only acted up to their freedom, they wanted to break free from all the mythologies made up by humanity while their nature enemies, the Campione, were the ones who brutally and violently slayed the gods to steal their powers, to rule the magi under tyranny.
'Then why did Sun Wu Kong turned the humans around this region into monkeys? If this is the [Free to do what you want] they mean, then clearly gods are no better than god-slayers.'
So far Issei had met 3 god-slayers: one is Kusanagi Godou, a pretty normal boy with supernatural powers; Luo Hao the Chinese beauty with peerless strength, she did act like a tyrant who does what she wants but then it was hard to explain. Ophis was there, and Luo Hao was a campione who slayed gods. It's natural for her to challenge any god appearing in front of her eyes.
About Annie, Issei knew nothing about her but the attitude of responsibility so he could not have a precised judgment.
"Those monkeys remind me, a few years ago there was a similar incident in a national park at Los Angeles. People turned into wild animals because of the appearance of a goddess."
Looks like the god-slayers weren't the only ones bringing disasters whenever they went.
"I think we should get back to the inn first. Hyoudou-san, you must be tired now, why don't we have a bath together?"
"Er, that sounds good I think."
As Issei stepped through the door he continued to think about Kusanagi's offer.
'Why would a guy choose to bathe with another guy while clearly he has a group of females after him?'
Issei didn't want to conclude that Kusanagi Godou had a problem with being around many females, doing so could probably resulted in the young god-slayer summoning that black boar to ram Issei to the boundary of heaven and earth. For now it was wise to just agree with him.
'It could be... my chance to ask him how to get a harem of beauties and bravery!? Kusanagi-san is such a nice guy.'
[…]
"Oh it's you Hyoudou-san."
Greeting Issei was the premier knight of Kusanagi, the silver haired Liliana Kranjcar, she seemed to be stricter than the last time Issei met her.
"I will have a bath with Hyoudou-san then we will have dinner later, okay?"
"As your knight I object. The only one you should bring to the place where you are defenseless should be your most loyal follower."
Liliana said as she put on a stern looking face, but Issei could see through what she meant.
'Bathing together, that's what this playboy god-slayer does!'
"Kusanagi-san, I believe you should have a bath with your premier knight, I will go ahead myself."
A true man will never interrupt others when they spend time with their harem!
"Wait Hyoudou-san! You misunderstood...!"
'Nope. As if I want to take a bath with another male, dealing with male enemies is already enough.'
With that thought Issei walked toward the private hot spring, opening the door he began to create spare clothes for the afterward. After carefully closing the door Issei jumped in the somewhat nature hot spring in front of him.
"I, rise."
"Ophis!?"
The goddess in black emerged from the hot spring in her birthday suit. Her long black hair stuck to her small figure, making a mysterious aura around her. Her small body slowly rose up to the afloat of water, then she walked to Issei.
"What are you doing here?"
"I, want to have a bath with Ise."
"Er, you see, in this inn there are two god-slayers, and they don't welcome any gods close to them so I think it's better if we go."
Issei believed Ophis wouldn't be harmed by any mean, but he didn't want to risk it. Better safe than sorry.
"Ise does not have to worry. I, have cloaked my presence. They cannot detect me."
Her monotone voice reached to Issei as he stopped putting back on his clothes.
"Is that so? I guess we can have a bath then."
With that said Issei began his relax time.
"Ha, this is comfortable."
Issei was in the hot spring. The water replenishing his mind, easing away his fatigue.
'It isn't like I'm taking advantage of Ophis, am I?'
Ophis was sitting on his lap, playing water with her hands.
Minutes ago after deciding to have a bath Issei helped Ophis to wash her back, in his eyes Ophis was like his child so he didn't mind that much. Touching her smooth baby skin he carefully washed it, to avoid hurting the Goddess, he doubted he could possibly harm her but he did try to be careful and gentle. Issei had been bathing together with girls various times so it's normal for him to know how to treat a girl's body.
'After the bath I will try to use [Divide] on the human-turned-monkey. I hope it works.'
Issei recalled the fight with the huge monkeys, it gave him a lot of battle experience in case he couldn't access his Scale Mail. He would try his Divide ability to see if he could save the people from Sun Wu Kong.
'I forgot to try promoting to [Rook] and [Bishop]. When I rammed into the huge monkey, if I promoted to [Rook] I might have be able to push it back more. Likewise, if I promoted to [Bishop] I could have increased the aura of my Demonic-power, then the damage inflicted to the monkey would be higher.'
There are many ways to use his powers. Issei felt excited, he could test it later, as a Dragon he needed more powers to deal with those strong beings.
[It's good to hear you thought like that.]
'Thanks Ddraig. I need to master them so I can take the active roles more.'
"Ise, I, will teach Ise how to use my powers."
She talked when he was feeling the hot water around him.
"Ophis? Oh right! Teach me Ophis! How to use your powers effectively!"
Issei remembered what he should do. He had to master Ophis or Great Red's powers if he want to get back to his dimension. It's a hard task, but he would give his all to accomplish it!
"Concentrate your thoughts. Call your snake, like this."
Ophis summoned her black snake: it was a small one, smaller than the sprite dragon familiar of Asia. The snake crawled from Ophis arm to her head, white pea eyes looking curiously at Issei.
To Issei, what she had done is quite simple, but not in his case.
"You did it too fast!"
It was just like that! She summoned her snake in the blink! That's it!
Still, Issei gave it a try. He focused on his thoughts.
'Imagine a snake, imagine a snake...'
Issei kept repeating the mantra, from his palm the black energy gathering themselves into a tiny ball. Finally, a snake the size of a worm appeared in his palm.
"This is Ise's snake, congratulation."
Seeing the snake wiggling on his palm, Issei didn't know how to respond.
"Even if I have your powers, it is not that great, huh?"
Like his first time practicing magic with Akeno, the results were always pitiful to him.
Issei dismissed the snake, it turned back into his body.
"How long it took you to do that?"
"I don't know. I was born with it."
Right she, the Dragon God, was born with it. Total control right from the start.
He, on the other hand, was just reborn with her powers for no more than a week.
'At least I know they're safe and sound on the other side.'
He had promised them, that he would return no matter what. He already had the tools, what he had to do is train until he can pull it out.
'Diving into the dream again to communicate with Rias and the girls is needed if I want to link them with me. Then they will use the Dragon-Gate: with the link running it will detect me, so I can return.'
But what about Guinevere? What about what he had promised her? Help her finding her King? She hadn't showed anything to ensure her words, but Issei himself felt bad betraying his words.
'I should help her, and train myself at the same time. So even if she cannot send me home, I can return by my own means.'
Ophis was swimming in the hot spring the moments Issei wasn't watching her.
She did tell him she would swim. Issei signed seeing the Goddess swimming, he had no strength left to catch her.
"Hey Ophis."
"What is it?"
"Can you... can you teleport me home?"
Lately Issei had thought up about this possibility, Ophis was able to teleport them from his dimension to this world so, would she be able to do that again?
He knew he was in her debt. She had saved him back in Dimensional Gap, given his new powers. Now she is teaching him how to use her powers. He felt that he should not ask her to do his request, but he wanted to make sure. He wanted to be sure that at least, if he failed at everything, there was still a last way to return home.
'I don't know how long it would take me. The girls will be worried, Khaos Brigade might attack them. I want to spend my times with them more, doing many things together.'
Issei felt attache to them: his friends, his comrades. He hadn't seen them in person for over a week and he already missed them so much. And the promotion test, he didn't know if he had passed.
"I cannot. My powers are in a tuning stage. I will damage you if we travel through dimensions."
"I see. Thank you for your answer."
Issei had predicted something like this would happen. If Ophis could really teleport both her and him back to their dimension, she would have done it already.
'Right! But I shouldn't be hopeless! Ophis is here with me, Ddraig is here with me! I can meet them in my dreams! I will train myself to the point I can control reality itself and come back to the Gremory family! Practice makes it perfect!'
He was one of them. His beloved ones were over there, he had to do it!
Reality manipulation. The concept was hard for Issei to understand, but he knew he had to learn how to do it. First should be how to understand Reality Manipulation fully...
"Hyoudou-san! Run!"
"Kusanagi-san?"
Issei could hear the God-slayer's voice when he planned to get out. What was that for?
'The enemies have come?'
Kusanagi wouldn't alert Issei to run if the Divine Beasts came, they weren't a threat to him. Could it be that Sun Wu Kong had landed a surprise assault?
"Found you!"
Issei's instincts told him to conjure up a trunk, he did it before the door blasted off violently.
The one standing where the door was, with her moon-guitar like voice. Her simple white clothes were magnificently, even if it was just a bathing clothes.
"I, Luo Hao has come!"
The Campione, Luo Hao of the Cult Mountain!
"W-What are you doing here!?"
Didn't she say she wouldn't chase after him!?
Luo Hao points her slim fingers at him, Issei found it hard to believe those slim fingers belonged to the pinnacle of martial arts.
"I must be lucky today, not only I got a sworn brother, but also another promising disciple. Sekiryuutei, I command to you to become my disciple! With my greatest martial arts I shall forge you into one of the most powerful fighters in the records of humanity's history! Like Quan Yu, like Ly Ong Trong, like me!"
Confidentially boasting her words, the Chinese god-slayer entered a stance.
"W-What do you want?"
The aura of Luo Hao increased at quick pace. Issei also got into his natural fighting stance.
"If you lose to me, then I shall discipline you into one of my best disciples. You don't object right, goddess in black? Or I have to settle with you first? My fists are hungry for battle."
Shit! Was this why Lu Ying Hua so scared of her!?
"I haven't agreed to become your disciple!"
Ophis stopped her swimming, with a flip, she jumped onto the floor, landed perfectly.
'If the Dragon God and the God-slayer fight, this place will be in ruined!'
"I, want Ise to become stronger."
What!?
"I see, you too want your champion to become the greatest. This sounds beyond the craziest thing I have ever heard but I can agree with a goddess. As long as he bears the title of being my disciple I have nothing against you. Sekiryuutei, I will take you back to Chinese after defeating that stone monkey!"
With that speech Luo Hao's figure vanished like the glow of the setting sun, leaving Issei confused of what just happened while from afar he could hear the foot step.
"Hyoudou-san! Are you alright!?"
The Japanese Campione made himself into the hot spring where Issei was taking a bath at, his eyes focused on Issei until he saw the small girl.
"Hyoudou-san!? Who is she? Don't tell me you were bathing with an underage girl!"
Would he feel frustration when the god-slayer misunderstood him? The event was turning too quick for someone like Issei to take it all in. 20 minutes ago Ophis jumped in the bath with him, then Luo Hao came and forced him to become her disciple, nor that Issei against it really, learning from a god-slayer would consider the best for his conditions right now, not only he could achieve touki like Sairaorg, but also better combat prominence, and now he had to explain who Ophis is, and what he had done with her.
"We will have a talk Kusanagi-san, in private."
Heracles finished his daily training session. He had a special training schedules to get a sub-species as soon as possible.
The hero descendant felt tired, but it was worth his time. He opened the bottle he brought with him and had a drink.
"Ha, mineral water is the best."
Heracles while training only used natural edible things to consume. Cao Cao was the one who suggested this idea to him. He learned much from his boss.
Feeling refreshed Heracles prepared to get home. Their group had moved from Africa to Florida, from what he got Cao Cao wanted to investigate about something. Cao Cao and Georg had left for about a day, Heracles was tasked to guard Leonardo.
Since the incident with the evil bastard Shalba the boy's mental health hadn't recovered fully. He could use his Longinus, but not as effective as before, at most the boy had created some beasts to help Heracles in his training.
Heracles wished he could do something about it, but what he got? His brutal strength and his booming Sacred Gear. He had nothing related to healing, except for his high defense and nice regeneration.
He was also affected by this world's nature: bit by bit, he felt he was becoming stronger just by standing on the ground. Lately Heracles could train for longer, with heavier weight on his body, and entering his mind to understand his Sacred Gear was also far more easier.
'Is that because I was moved by Bael?'
Heracles was defeated by Sairaorg Bael. By a normal punch, but he is proud he took it like a man, a hero, not a coward targeting people's weakness. He was no more a coward.
'I must thank that Devil, he woke me up. In the future he is going to be a great Satan. One day, I will use my title as a hero descendant to challenge him again.'
Heracles had thrown away the shit he once embraced. He would become a real hero. To live up to his ancestor's name.
Heracles put his training gears into a huge box, then he brought them back as he walked to his house. His abilities with magic were low, he still couldn't use magic to create a pocket dimension. He promised he would learn it later with Georg's help.
"Oh, right. I should buy something to-Hey! What are you people doing here!?"
Heracles dropped his stuff and dashed to his house. There were many men in suits over there, but the worst thing was that he saw them taking a tied Leonardo away.
"Leave him alone!"
A muscular man came out, it seemed like he was the leader of this group.
"We the SSI would like to have a conversation with you. Please come with us. We promise no harm."
"Then why did you tied him up!? He is just a child!"
Heracles knew Leonardo didn't like it when someone treat him like a child, but in this circumstance Heracles wanted to try everything he could.
"He resisted us. Fortunately we managed to suppress him using magecraft. Now, please be at ease, we won't harm you, all we want is just a conversation."
'Heracles, I know you are all muscle, but don't trust anyone in here, only us, trust no one.'
Cao cao's advice came back to Heracles' mind.
"Trust you!? Magecraft? Bring it on you bastards!"
Heracles punched the man with great force, so much that the leader flew through the house. Heracles didn't care, he would defeat all of this men, then escape with Leonardo. He would somehow contact Georg and Cao Cao later.
The men took out weapons of various kinds from swords, blades, spears to guns and crossbows.
"Take him down! We will extract information from the boy later!"
That broke Heracles' patience.
"How dare you!?"
Heracles punched them, in each of his punches he put his Sacred Gear power into it. The men couldn't tank his brutal explosion attacks, their bodies and weapons just kept blowing up.
"What!? What is this power!?"
They tried to blast Heracles, but their magic attacks were pitiful compared to the Valkyrie he fought in Kyoto, they were nothing!
Heracles stick out his chest and took them all, there was smoke on his chest but no wound.
"Ga! He must be using some kind of spell to protect him! If only we have a Great Knight or Campione here...!"
"Campione...?"
'Is it a code name or a title for someone? Something?'
The man whose face was covered by his hairband (?) talked to Heracles.
"You are strong, but when facing Kings and Great Knights you have no chance to win!"
"As if! Even if you bring a God here, this Heracles shall fight them to the end!"
Heracles knew he hadn't reached that level of power but he spoke those words anyway. He had nothing to fear, it was the duty of heroes to slay supernatural beings!
'Well said my descendant.'
!
"W-Who are you!?"
Heracles did hear it! A voice! But ... it came from his head!?
'I am you, the origin Heracles. By challenging Gods, you unlocked access to my powers. Use it well. The only thing that matters is power, without it you are no one, with it you can do anything.'
"I told you guys we shouldn't accept this mission! All of them are too dangerous!"
"Shut up! Just because you saw one of them slaying a Goddess doesn't mean they can do the same!"
Slaying a Goddess? Were they talking about Cao Cao?
"Huh, is that it? You thought we cannot slay Gods? You thought only him can do it!? I shall show you!"
'Go forth! Wipe everything that stand in your way!'
"Oh, lion that made the king fear! Oh, unbreakable skin! Oh, golden flash! Come and assist your master!"
The chant was inside his head, it felt natural for him to know it, to use it.
Thus in front of Heracles a golden magic circle appeared: from it a golden lion jumped out.
ROOOOAAAAARRR!
The roar of the king of forest. The lion stared ferociously at the SSI members.
"No way! It is a Divine Beast! It must be a Divine Beast!"
"I told you! They are not Campione but also not human!"
Heracles touched the lion' head, and it calmed down a bit, seemed like it received only orders from Heracles.
"We will slay Gods and supernatural beings. It's in our blood."
"Retreat!"
The leader had waken up and commanded his men to run away, there was nothing they could do. They left the tied boy for fear that Heracles might use the lion to chase them.
Heracles quickly untied the boy, who was unconscious. He brought him back into the house. Soon, they would move again.
Heracles called back his lion. If his guess was true, then it had to be Nemean. Sairaorg also had one, but back in Heracles's world it was a Longinus. This one, who accepted only his commands, was like a living beast more than a weapon or tool. It was not until late night that Cao Cao and Georg came back.
"Heracles? What happened?"
"Some men from … the SSI, yes, they assaulted us and tried to capture Leonardo for interrogation."
The boy was sleeping soundly. The three men talked quietly, trying to not disturb his sleep.
"Ah, is that so? The SSI, we have just came back from their Headquarters. Might be the karma for what I've done."
Cao Cao took a sip from his tea cup, he had a relaxed face. Georg spoke up.
"Yesterday Cao Cao suggested I and him go to the local magic association, to find clues about this world. We planned to infiltrate the SSI's HQ, a magic organization to grab the information then return. It went better than we expected."
Putting his tea cup down, Cao Cao span his spear playfully.
"Heracles. In this world Gods exist, but not like in our world: they escape their myths by chance and manifest themselves in the mortal realm. The Goddess I slayed was the same case. The ones who slay Gods manage to usurp their powers, in their common word [Authorities]. Then they are named "Campione", as "Champion" in Italian. There are currently 7 Campione, lesser than I guessed. Georg, please tell Heracles what we got from their HQ."
Heracles recalled back when he fought the SSI members, one of them said something about Campione. If what Cao Cao said was true, could they call a Campione to intercept him?
'Sudden assault on others' association. I should have guessed, it's Cao Cao's style.'
Heracles took the biscuit on the plate, on the way back home Cao Cao and Georg had visited a supermarket to resupply. They did take some money with them.
"Campione. They are the "Kings" of this world, some of them have even their own factions. According to the data we've gathered Campione have a body of "living steel", I must say this surprised me. "Living steel" can be countered easily, if they have written that Campione have a hardcore body made of divinity, then it would be a threat."
Living Steel. A body made of pure steel? In Heracles's mind, he didn't very well understand what it mean. Did they have steel forged into their bodies? Or they were still human with white bones, but with the hardness of steel? Either way, Living Steel didn't sound "strong" to Heracles. Diamond or Gold seems harder and more sturdy.
He admitted he didn't have a body as hard as Diamond or Gold, but if it was steel, then he could punch them. His fists now were stronger.
'I can break building with my fists only, just like Bael.'
Yes, even now he hadn't reached that Devil's strength level, but he was confident he could hold his own against him in a friendly match.
"What is troubling is their "anti-magic". The report said "Even if all the magi fight against them, their magic cannot harm them." This can be a big problem, but first we need to know how they define magic. There's a slim chance our magic system is different from them so we can use it against Campione."
Anti-magic. The term in Heracles made him thought that if he uses spells, assuming he could cast them in the first place, they wouldn't have effect on them. But what about his Sacred Gear? Did it count as magic? Did it have effect on Campione?
'So, maybe... I have to develop something not relate to magic, in order to fight against these Campione?'
Heracles knew that soon they would face those Campione. He didn't mind, constantly fighting strong foes is the best way to achieve power.
"I did slay a Goddess, but it seems like I didn't become a Campione since Georg's magic is still affecting me. But my body is better now, compared to the "me" when the Sekiryuutei pulled up his trick back in Kyoto replica. I guess when you slay a God and gain their powers your body is also healed back and given bonus points to your base stats."
Cao Cao's right eye had no more scar, he hadn't opened it yet but the wound had closed up, like it has never been there. So, if Georg also slayed a God...
"Cao Cao, do you think that Sekiryuutei would slay a God, just like you?"
Heracles felt unease hearing that line, if Sekiryuutei could defeat Sairaorg, the one who defeated him with two punches, then how monstrous he would become if he slayed a God?
"Yes, and no. If that God threatens him or his comrades, he better pray to his own self. Compared to me, Sekiryuutei is stronger, he has a [Longinus], the tier level is just something we make up, the power is always true, not to mention his body now is reborn with Great Red's flesh and Uroboros' power. But there's a chance he can talk them out and make them his allies."
Cao Cao spoke with a bitter smile.
"Indeed, Sekiryuutei gains more allies then Hakuryuukou. That's far more dangerous, if he can really do that... Between a divinity upgraded Sekiryuutei and a Sekiryuutei with Gods backing him up, I don't know which is worse."
Georg's words made sense. Dragons always attract powerful allies and enemies. It is the principle of Dragons.
'An alliance of Dragons and Gods.'
It rang in Heracles's head. It sounded too unbelievable. Dragons and Gods allied themselves.
What in the world can stop that?
"We need to prepare, according to the information, it seems like you can slay a God with help from others."
Heracles's blood suddenly heated when he heard that line.
"Each of us Hero Faction member shall slay a God."
!
In Touguushu, the place where Heretic Sun Wu Kong was stalling, there were people who didn't really care about the situation.
The fact that they were playing touchy-handle showed it.
"Ah Ha Ha! You are losing, Kaoru-san!"
"Just wait there, I shall have you completely under my palm."
Sayanomira Kaoru: Hime Miko, head of Japan's main magic association History Compilation Committee.
The handsome girl enjoyed dressing herself in men's clothes. With her "manly" glamor countless ladies had fallen over their heels, even though some of them knew that she was not a man.
Despite playing touchy-handle, in her mind Kaoru was thinking deeply about him, the red dragon.
Hyoudou Issei. From the name and his appearance, she guessed he was really Japanese. He was not something born from mythologies, in fact, she could vote for him being closer to a human.
His strength was the point that she couldn't list him in human category.
The seventh Campione's lovers, Erica Blandelli, had secretly reported to her about Hyoudou Issei's true powers.
'Yes, after that he told us to escape without him, he said he would distract them. He had us in debt for his valiant act. But, we thought he would need our help if the situation was out of hand, so we left an "Eye" to observe him. What we watched, was beyond our imagination.'
Kaoru remembered exactly each word Erica said.
'He blasted one of the Divine Beasts, killing it in a single hit. They couldn't damage him, it was like he just fooling around. He used some kind of gauntlets, one red and one white. He slaughtered the Divine Beasts that serve the Great Sage Equaling Heaven as if they were mere "monkeys" to him.'
The powers to slay Divine Beasts with ease! All over the world, even the Paladino couldn't do that easily. Kaoru doubted Hyoudou's strength was limited to that.
He, the one who served the Goddess in black, or should she say Mother Earth Goddess. In Yuri's Spirit Vision she was a dragon in black, while Hyoudou was a dragon with red limbs and white wings. Then what was about his body? Was it as black as the Goddess he serve? Could he turn into a dragon?
There's a chance he was the son of the Mother Earth Goddess. Both of them were dragons, very likely.
'The Dragon son accompanying his mother Goddess.'
Myth like that was not unpopular, but Kaoru had to gather more information if she wanted to pinpoint their true origins. So she could understand what they would do in the future, thus allowing her to prepare if the worst came to be.
'The snake-like black dragon. She can't be Athena, Athena is still alive, and she has white hair. Reports from months ago said Athena was seen with Kusanagi-san, she couldn't change her personality and have a son within such short time.'
But again, Gods were beyond what human can comprehend.
'Hyoudou Issei. He has two gauntlets, one red and one white, they are the red limbs and white wings. In some legends the wings of a dragon are also attached to their fore legs. But Yuri told me it was a dragon with 4 limbs.'
The possibilities were increasing with quick pace, too many potential ones. Kaoru couldn't take the right guess if she continued like this.
"Hey Lu Ying Hua, you said Hyoudou Issei would become your honored-brother, can you tell me the specific details?"
Kaoru needed more details about this mysterious Hyoudou Issei. If he was that strong, then how strong was the Goddess he served? And he did get along with the King.
'If I can convince him to be our ally, then we shall have a great combatant when the King isn't available. The Goddess also wasn't showing any hostile signs.'
That was what the handsome Hime Miko thought.
"Hm, I will tell you, but please don't tell others. The truth is, Hyoudou-niisan is not human."
"Yeah, we confirmed that when we saw him go with a Goddess."
"What!? You already know that!? Yeah, Hyoudou-niisan is something related to [Serpent]. But it isn't my idea that he should become my master's disciple. It was my master's idea."
"So Her Eminence wanted him as her disciple."
This was getting interesting. To think Luo Hao would take another disciple beside Lu Ying Hua. It made sense, Hyoudou was able to slay Divine Beasts with ease.
"But that is not the most excited part: because of what Hyoudou-niisan did, my master desired to have him. He fought against my master, and he DID survive."
!
"Wait, you mean Hyoudou Issei fought Luo Hao and won!?"
If Lu Ying Hua said it was the Goddess who fought the Campione, Kaoru could understand. But Hyoudou?
"No, he lost, and my master only used one of her [Authorities]. But look at the other side: only Kings, Gods and their peers can fight each others, right? But! Hyoudou-niisan is not a King! Nor a God! And he fought my master, one of the oldest Campione, and survived! My master said that he fought for the sake of his Goddess."
'They have a deep connection to each others if what he said is true. Hyoudou and his Mother Earth Goddess.'
Truly terrifying, Hyoudou Issei... Just who are you?
His rank should be higher than Paladino. About his magecraft, nothing notable was reported, but given his feats, he could very likely be on par with Lucretia Zola.
'Now how I convince him, and the Goddess, if only she-'
While Kaoru was thinking how to get into him to her side, the cell phone rang out.
Excusing herself to use the cell phone, Kaoru found herself a suitable place.
"I'm listening."
'Kaoru-san! There's trouble on this side!'
The one who called her was in the U.S.A. He was a "bug" inside the SSI, the magic association ruled by John Pluto Smith.
"What is it?"
The number he was using was only for emergency calls, so it had to be something big. But as the head of History Committee Kaoru kept herself calm.
'The SSI's HQ has been attacked! By two people, they took the data and snatched some magic books, artifacts and rune.'
!
"They did that!? Do you have any idea who they are?"
SSI's HQ, it was placed in a secret place and the security was formed by several guards on Great Knights level. Kaoru knew they had at least one Paladino over there. But it was assaulted by only two people!
'The security cameras were taken out so we couldn't get a clear footage, but at least from the guards' memories one of them was a spear user, the other one was a high-class magi, his spells were different from anything they have ever seen.'
"What's the King's order?"
'He-Oh! I'm sorry Kaoru-san, I have to go, the captain just saw me using the cell phone-'
The issue with the red dragon and his goddess, the divine monkey god and the sister of Hime Miko, now to the intrusion of two magi into the HQ of SSI.
'Is this the chaos they usually talk when god-slayers and gods are involved?'
Never before Japan had a Campione. Kaoru had prepared herself for things like this to happen, but then the amount of works just kept increasing from time to time.
"Fancy to see you here, is there anything you need to talk?"
From behind Kaoru there was a presence, being a Hime Miko it was normal for Kaoru to feel it.
"Oh my, I was found out that quickly? It seems like I have to hone my skills more."
None other than the highest ranked Witch in the heaven, Princess Alice.
"Nice to meet you Sayanomiya-san."
"It should be my pleasure Princess Alice."
Kaoru bowed down to the elegant noble lady.
"Why don't we head to the table for a little chatting?"
"My apologise. Right now I can just stay some more minutes here, my power soon will run out."
Kaoru knew about this, Princess Alice helped Kusanagi Godou when the God-slayer of Japan was stuck in the prison known as [Keeper of the Horse]. She used her psychic power to protect Mariya Yuri and her sister, allowing them to escape safely afterward.
"I heard that a red dragon and his goddess have come to Japan, didn't they?"
For a witch whose descendant was a former Miko of a Mother Earth Goddess, it wouldn't be strange for Princess Alice to be interested in this news. Being a Hime Miko like Mariya Yuri, Princess Alice surely had a vision about the coming of the red dragon and the black dragon.
"Yes, my men met them before. Apparently the servant of the Earth Mother Goddess is a modernized person."
"That's far better than what I expected."
"I can tell you this: instead of demanding this and that, that guy acted like a civilian of our age, not a single bit of barbaric acts were used by him as far as we know for now."
True to Kaoru's word, there wasn't a smallest terrible activity made by that red dragon and his goddess, yet.
"I'll remember this. Good bye Hime Miko of the east."
Looks like the White Princess of Witengamot had take interest in him.
'And I'm planning to have him on our side.'
Notes: I was waiting to build up my muse, but really, vol 17 hasn't been fully translated yet vol 18 is out. Another thing is that my interest in Campione! is dropped so writing takes more time now. I will try to finish Arc 1 in June. Lately I have many ideas running in my head but couldn't finish them all, most of them are the premise of a story, do you think that I should publish it as a draft collection?