The following afternoon, at a quiet detached house in Tokyo.
Kusanagi Godo was sprawled out on the tatami mats, staring blankly at the ceiling. Far from the tension of last night easing, the weight of the impending storm pressed down even harder on his chest.
“Sigh... Do I really have to fight this guy?”
“There's no time for sighing, Godo.”
Erica Brandelli entered the room, carrying a mountain of ancient manuscripts and a tablet PC. Her expression was as solemn as a knight heading to a battlefield.
“Your opponent is a senior King with three years of experience over you. If you just daze off, there won't even be bones left to bury.”
It was then.
The flow of air surrounding the house twisted strangely. The guards watching the garden and the employees passing through the corridors suddenly seemed to remember something urgent, scurrying away or naturally turning their gazes elsewhere. It was as if the very perception of the people in the area was being gently pushed aside to pave the way for someone to enter.
This wasn't some stealth magic designed to erase one's presence. It was the manifestation of an overwhelming ‘prestige’ unique to high-level mages, where one’s mere existence forced the mundane world to step back.
“Pardon my intrusion.”
With an elegant and dignified voice, a woman appeared in the center of the now-empty garden. It was Alice Louise of Navarre.
“Princess Alice...!”
Erica stepped in front of Godo, her guard raised. Alice gave a gentle smile and placed an envelope on the table.
“Do not be so tense. I have only come to deliver a message from the King.”
“A message... Has the location been decided?”
“Yes.”
Alice unfolded a map. Her finger pointed to a tiny dot south of the Japanese archipelago, located near a strait notorious for its violent currents.
“Okinotori. It is an uninhabited, desolate land where only ferocious Divine Beasts and poisonous herbs grow wild. The King has chosen it as our stage.”
“An uninhabited island...”
“The time is noon tomorrow. I suggest you arrive punctually. The King is not particularly fond of waiting.”
Her business concluded, Alice bowed gracefully and vanished into the gaps of perception like the wind, just as she had arrived.
Godo swallowed hard as he looked at the red dot on the map.
“An island full of poisonous plants and monsters... His taste is certainly brutal.”
“Now is not the time to complain. Godo, focus.”
Erica immediately spread her research across the table.
“Your Authority from Verethragna—specifically, the incarnation of ‘The Warrior.’ To activate the Golden Sword, knowledge of the opponent’s essence, the identity of the gods they usurped, is absolutely essential.”
Erica handed over the first set of data with a grave expression.
“First, that ashen pressure that crushed you at the ryokan yesterday. That Authority relies on sight to turn targets into stone. This is the Authority of the Gorgon from Greek mythology, ‘Medusa.’”
“Medusa... Wait, Erica.”
Godo furrowed his brow as he reached into his memory. Vivid images of the fierce battle he had fought just days ago flashed through his mind.
“The thing about turning to stone if you look into their eyes... Isn't that similar to ‘Athena,’ the one I fought before? I think Athena used power like that too...”
“Good point, Godo. Your intuition is sharp.”
Erica nodded and began her explanation.
“It is true that Athena possesses the characteristics of an ancient Mother Earth Goddess, which is the prototype of Medusa. In mythology, Athena and Medusa are inextricably linked. However, the Authority the Seventh King possesses is not Athena herself.”
Erica pointed her pen at an illustration of Medusa.
“In myth, the Earth Goddess is often degraded into a monster. Within the massive godhead of Athena, the Seventh King chose to hunt the aspect of the ‘cursed monster’ alone, excluding her side as a goddess of wisdom and war. He hunted the god Medusa. Therefore, his Authority is not defined by divine majesty, but is instead extremely specialized as a ‘curse’ and ‘petrification’ designed to bring ruin. The moment your eyes meet, you could be turned to stone without even a chance to resist.”
“So, don't look him in the eye...”
Godo nodded, cold sweat trickling down his neck.
“And second. His power to command the skies and strike with lightning. That belongs to the storm god of Polynesian mythology, ‘Tāwhirimātea.’ He manipulates the wind and weather, wielding destructive thunderbolts. You should think of it as a natural disaster in human form.”
“And finally, one more.”
Erica’s expression darkened further. She opened a file containing a map of Britain.
“This happened three years ago in England. While the Black Prince, Lord Alexander Gascoigne, was away exploring the Astral Realm, a group of malevolent necromancers performed a forbidden ritual to summon an ancient hero.”
“An ancient hero?”
“Yes. Through their ritual, the Steel God ‘Arthur Pendragon’ descended. The Seventh King, standing in for the absent Black Prince, struck down that heroic god of steel and usurped his Authority.”
Erica added in a trembling voice.
“The Authority he obtained then is 『Knights of the Round Table』. It is a power that grants protection bordering on divinity to those who swear fealty to him. That Authority is why Princess Alice and Lord Alessandro radiate an aura that transcends humanity. It is even said that the King himself can wield Excalibur.”
Godo’s face turned pale.
“The curse of Medusa, the disaster of a storm god, and the heroic King of Steel... He’s a literal monster.”
“This might not even be everything. Looking at the Hawaii incident and his other tracks, there are certainly more ‘hidden cards’ yet to be revealed. Do not drop your guard for even a second, Godo.”
Godo clenched his fists, his face etched with grim determination.
Noon the next day, Okinotori—an uninhabited island near the Japanese strait.
It was a desolate place, filled only with the sound of violent waves crashing against the rocks. The vegetation was uniformly thorny, and venomous insects crawled through the cracks in the stones.
I had arrived thirty minutes early and was sitting on the highest rocky hill of the island. Beside me, Alessandro stood on high alert, radiating an aura as if he were encased in pitch-black armor.
“My Lord, the energy of this island is unusual. Because it has been untouched by humans for so long, local malefic miasma has condensed, and it seems that Divine Beast-class monsters are nesting here.”
“I know. That’s why I chose this place. We can destroy as much as we want without any repercussions.”
It was then.
SKREEEE—!
The dense forest of the island parted as a massive shadow lunged out. It was a monster in the shape of a spider, as large as a small house. It was a Divine Beast that had mutated after absorbing malefic energy for ages. Spotting us as intruders, it rushed forward ferociously, lethal venom dripping from its mandibles.
“How dare you stand before the King!”
Alessandro reacted instantly. His hand gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist, and he was about to step forward to draw his blade when—
“Leave it.”
My low voice halted Alessandro's movement mid-stride.
Without even shifting from my sitting position, I slightly turned my head toward the charging monster. It was a gaze of utter indifference, as if I were merely dealing with an annoying fly.
The moment that gaze met the monster’s eight eyes.
“To those who behold me, to all who face me. Become stone and fall silent.”
CRACK!
The monster’s jump was frozen solid in mid-air. Every single hair, every drop of flying saliva, and even its murderous eyes were instantly dyed a dull grey. The pulsing thrum of its life was transformed into perfect Stasis in a mere tenth of a second.
THUD.
The monster, now a massive hunk of rock, fell heavily at my feet. Dust billowed up, but I simply waved my hand to brush it away.
“I’ve always hated loud things.”
Alessandro let out a breath filled with admiration as he sheathed his sword.
“As expected... there truly is no escape from my Lord’s Petrifying Evil Eye.”
“I just didn't want to waste energy on such trash.”
I crossed my legs, using the petrified monster as a footstool.
Thrum, thrum, thrum, thrum....
From far beyond the horizon, the sound of an approaching helicopter reached my ears. He was right on time.
“He’s here.”
I stood up. Alessandro stepped back, clearing the way behind me.
The helicopter landed in a clearing on the island, and two figures emerged through the wind of the rotors. The knight in the red dress, Erica Brandelli, and Kusanagi Godo, whose expression was set with resolve.
Godo spotted me and began walking over, only to flinch when he saw the giant stone spider rolling at my feet. It was the gruesome end of a Divine Beast that had been alive just moments ago. He swallowed hard, his face tense with nerves, but he soon clenched his fists and walked right up to me.
The look in his eyes was different from yesterday. The knowledge Erica had drilled into him all night and his resolve as a King were hardening his spirit.
I looked down at him and smirked.
“You’re punctual. For now, your attitude passes.”
“I couldn't exactly be late when my senior called for me.”
Godo replied with a feigned casualness, but his eyes were working hard not to look directly into mine. He was clearly conscious of Medusa's Authority.
“Are you ready?”
“...Yes. Whenever you are.”
Godo exchanged a glance with Erica and took a step forward. Golden divine power began to shimmer from his body like a heat haze.
I slowly stepped down from the rocky platform and stood before him. The sound of the waves grew violent, and the air of the island grew taut with tension.
“Then let us begin. I’ll see if you actually have the right to handle my territory, or if you’re just a lucky brat.”
I spread my arms wide.
“Prove it to me, Kusanagi Godo.”
As I made my declaration, the sky over the uninhabited island began to sink into darkness. The clash between two Devil Kings who had slain gods was about to begin.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register