Not even 24 hours had passed since the battle between a Campione and a Heretic God last shook Canvey Island. Now, the island has once again become a battlefield, this time filled by the clash of two archers who transcend human limits.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
The roar of arrows shot repeatedly produced thunderous explosions, creating shockwaves that shook the ground and destroyed everything in their path. This battle was an unparalleled archer duel, in terms of speed, accuracy, and destructive power.
One of the archers, a 17-year-old youth with short, light brown hair and bangs covering his forehead, nimbly jumped to avoid an arrow's explosion. He possessed a handsome, prince-like face, but the gleam in his eyes showed unwavering determination.
He was Rokuhara Ren, the Seventh Campione, wielding the legendary bow that once shot down nine suns.
"..."
On the other side was his opponent, a tall and powerfully built man with an athletic and proportionate physique, reflecting the figure of a true knight. His skin shone golden, his face was handsome with a firm jawline, and his eyes were sharp like an eagle's. Every movement exuded wisdom, courage, and strength. He was Karna, the Son of the Sun God Surya from the Hindu pantheon, a hero whose name is legendary in the epic Mahabharata.
"As expected of Karna, the Hero of Charity!" Ren exclaimed while doing a backflip, evading an arrow that detonated where he had been standing.
*BOOM!*
The ground beneath him shattered into pieces, but Ren was not surprised. He immediately retaliated by drawing his bow, firing an arrow that shot like a flash of light towards Karna.
*SWOOSH!*
"Your archery skills are truly extraordinary, Karna! If not for that foolish oath your mother forced upon you not to attack the five Pandava brothers whose strength was far below yours, they would have been killed countless times in the Kurukshetra War!"
"I know I have no obligation to obey my birth mother who abandoned me as soon as I was born. Even so, no matter what kind of person my mother is, I do not hate her. Even if only once, I am grateful that my mother called me her son."
Karna responded to Ren's comment about his past with a calm voice devoid of negative emotion, his voice echoing across the battlefield filled with dust and debris from their arrow explosions.
"Tsk. Your virtuous personality and kindness are indeed impressive. Even Indra was ashamed to have tricked you into stripping off your golden armor so that his son, Arjuna, would have a chance against you. You knew it was a deception, yet you still did it without hesitation."
"..."
Karna did not reply. A barrage of arrows came raining down on Ren, each shot possessing enough force to shatter large rocks.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Ren parried the opponent's attacks by releasing his own arrows like a machine gun.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
The arrows collided in the air with incredible speed, creating small explosions and shockwaves that sent dust flying around them. The rain of arrows pressured Karna for a moment, but he did not yield. In an instant, Karna released several arrows with perfect accuracy, forcing Ren to evade.
*Pu-chi!*
However, one arrow managed to pierce his defenses. The arrowhead pierced his shoulder, but Ren did not let the pain disrupt his concentration. With a swift and decisive movement, he pulled out the arrow, fresh blood dripping from his wound. He leaped backward, moving to a new, safer position, while keeping his eyes fixed on Karna.
"For me, defeat means disgracing my father. Even if death awaits me, I cannot run. That is how I have always lived. For me, who has lived my life with pride towards those who gave me life and raised me, my life is not my own." Karna said with a tone full of conviction.
"..."
Wiping his injured shoulder, the bleeding had already begun to stop. Ren raised his bow again, his eyes shining with a mixture of respect and fighting spirit.
"Wow, your personality is such that even Indra was moved by how brave you are. Karna, you're the kind of person I'd most want to be friends with. It's a shame we ended up as enemies."
Hearing that from his opponent, Karna smiled faintly, his gaze filled with an impenetrable calmness.
"You exaggerate, Campione. You are no less formidable. If you had been born in the Age of Gods, I am certain you would have left your name in history like other great heroes. Being able to kill gods with a mortal body is proof of your qualifications far above the ordinary."
The two spoke as if they were old friends, but the bows in their hands remained at the ready. Every word spoken did not diminish the intensity of the battle. Ren and Karna were each trying to kill the other with their extraordinary archery skills. However, behind every attack, there was a deep respect for one another.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Explosions of energy continued to erupt between them, the battlefield bearing witness to this epic clash. Despite his injury, Ren continued to display his extraordinary fighting spirit as a Campione.
On the opposing side, with his grace and unwavering resolve, Karna remained a nearly unmatched challenge.
"Karna! I will show you why I am called the God Slayer!" Ren shouted, drawing his bow with full force.
Karna raised his bow, his face showing not the slightest hint of doubt.
"Come, Campione! Prove to me that you deserve that title!"
No longer exchanging words, Ren drew his bow, releasing arrows at the speed of sound.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
But Karna easily deflected each of those attacks. As if reading Ren's every move, he unleashed a counterattack of flaming arrows that covered the sky.
*BUZZ!*
Flames filled the air, engulfing the battlefield in a scorching inferno. There was no room to evade—every corner was covered by the dazzling light of the arrows.
Assessing the situation, Ren replaced the Sun Conquering Divine Authority with the Solar Flash Divine Authority. In an instant, he chanted an incantation.
"Splendor of the sun, radiate your light within me! Carry this body across space and time, leaving behind a shadow that even the world cannot catch!"
As soon as the incantation was complete, his body instantly shone with a golden flash of light. His thought process accelerated beyond human limits. The world around him seemed to move in slow motion from his perspective. Even the rain of fire arrows that had previously seemed unavoidable now appeared to float slowly in the air.
*WHOOSH!*
Ren moved with Godspeed, his speed so extraordinary that he could observe every detail around him. Afterimages of his body trailed behind, creating the illusion that he was in multiple places at once. The fire arrows passed through his afterimages, but none managed to touch his real body.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
The fire raining down on the battlefield scorched the earth, creating a raging torrent of flames. However, Ren, with a speed impossible for the naked eye to follow, remained completely unharmed.
Seeing his fire arrows rendered useless against Ren's speed, Karna switched his arrows to projectile weapons.
"Incredible speed. However, you cannot evade this."
"Brahmastra!"
*SHUA!*
The projectile shot forth with tremendous speed, accurately tracking Ren's energy trail. Unlike ordinary arrows, the Brahmastra possessed the ability to pursue its target and guarantee a hit.
Still using Godspeed, Ren recognized the danger.
"Damn it!"
Realizing that he couldn't completely evade the attack, he quickly formulated a strategy. In the split second before the Brahmastra reached him, Ren used a large rock nearby as a substitute for his body.
*BOOOOOOM!*
The Brahmastra struck the rock with devastating force, creating a massive explosion that shook the ground.
Although the attack did not directly hit him, the shockwave from the explosion was enough to send Ren flying hundreds of meters. His body slammed into the ground hard, leaving a long trail in the earth.
Rising slowly, Ren brushed off the dust clinging to his clothes. Although his whole body ached, the smile had never left his face since the battle began.
"Truly incredible power. This guaranteed hit effect is quite troublesome. Fortunately, it's not without a solution."