Erica carefully observed Seiya's expression, finding nothing unusual about it.
"To be able to foresee even something like this, how amazing. You must be able to see through anything," Seiya praised.
"It's not quite like that. The things we see with spirit vision are very limited. For instance, right now, we still don't know the specific whereabouts of the golden god—oh, I mean, the war god Verethragna. However, if there were a spirit vision user of the highest level present, that would be another matter. But people with that kind of talent are extremely rare, so it can't be helped."
The abilities of a spirit vision user relied almost entirely on innate talent.
When you thought about it, a talent like clairvoyance had a very strong practical application; it wasn't something that could be commonplace.
The San Basilio ruins were about twenty kilometers from the small town. After getting out of the car, the two of them proceeded on foot towards the ruins in the forest.
Here there were many nuraghes in a poor state of preservation, as well as the ruins of many settlements. Although there were other well-preserved ruins in this region, as a tourist destination, this place was not very popular.
But, even so—
With the sun not yet set, the majestic sight of the nuraghe was quite a splendid view.
A lush green forest, and a tall, ancient tower.
The nuraghe was one of the taller structures on this island, towering high enough to look down upon the tall trees. Even from outside the forest, one could see the silhouette of the structure, cleverly built from stone.
"The fact that it exists means this is the ruin of an ancient settlement. In those times, settlements were more sacred than temples or tombs. It's not uncommon for Heretic Gods to be drawn by the spiritual energy of the land and forcibly enter the dwellings of unrelated gods."
"So, you're saying they feel more comfortable in another god's territory than in their own?" Seiya thought of the war god with whom he had formed such a strong bond and couldn't help but chuckle. Why did all these Heretic Gods have a hobby of taking what belonged to others? Be it another's warrior or another's sacred temple or tribal settlement.
As they chatted idly, they arrived near the nuraghe.
There was a clearing deep in the forest, which looked like a plaza with a good view. Although it was covered in overgrown weeds, making it difficult to discern, one could still see the traces of various settlements finely constructed from stone. Come to think of it, the nuraghe also seemed to have rooms and stairs.
The peak of this civilization was around the tenth century BC. To be able to undertake such a construction project in that era, and in a place with a small population, was, in a sense, a feat of engineering that surpassed modern technology. But once they arrived here, they no longer needed the guidance of the witch, Erica.
Following the perception of the aura, Seiya arrived before a gap formed by ruined stone walls and a fallen giant tree.
Even without the talent of a witch, from the darkness deep within this gap, he could vaguely feel an aura that made his whole body tremble with excitement.
"Looks like our luck is good. The master is at home," Seiya smiled, and then released the restraints on himself, letting loose the aura of the Pegasus Saint. "Well then, let's say hello before we go in."
This is his way of saying hello? Erica didn't quite understand. But having already made up her mind, she resolutely followed behind Seiya, step by step.
The entrance was narrow at first, barely allowing a person to pass. After walking several dozen more steps, it suddenly opened up into a wide space.
What came into view was a crude but magnificent subterranean palace.
The interior of the temple was also cleverly stacked with stones, the gaps filled in with more stonework.
Sardinia, with its Mediterranean climate, generally had very dry air. But now, the air flowing underground was extremely humid. Seiya raised his hand, and a light shot from his palm, illuminating the scene before them, allowing them to proceed quickly through the underground passage.
From this point on, they needed no guidance. Even if Erica's guidance as a witch wasn't up to par, Seiya's keen senses for deities still led him down the correct path.
And then, the two of them finally met him.
The truly complete Heretic God, the true embodiment of might and power—the God King Melqart.
"Warrior from a distant shore, from a domain outside this one. Tell me, how long has it been since I have come face to face with an existence such as you?"
His extremely deep voice sounded like a great rumble from the depths of the earth. It was as heavy and resonant as thunder.
"Greetings, esteemed God King. It seems you are not in the best of states," Seiya said, bowing his head slightly as a sign of respect.
"This small island was once my domain, but now it has been seized and defiled by people of unknown origin. Though I have been away from the earth for a long time, the thought of worldly affairs pains my heart... My apologies for speaking of such things. Just consider it an old man grumbling."
In the depths of the underground temple, there was a spring welling up from the earth. The stone passage suddenly ended, and the ground there was nothing but soil.
For a people who worshipped water as a sacred entity, this spring was likely the divine object of their rituals.
He was there, by the shore of the spring.
A stout, middle-aged giant sitting on a waterside altar. His unkempt hair looked as if it had never been cut, and the beard that covered the lower half of his face was impressive. He had a wild appearance, and his height was easily over two meters.
Such a sturdy and well-proportioned body completely defied human anatomy. Normally, someone so tall would appear lanky, but he was not. His bulging, massive muscles exuded an oppressive aura just by looking at them.
His body was magnificent, powerful, and sacred.
Though he wore very crude clothing—a dirty, torn cloth and a leather breastplate, with a tattered cloak draped over his shoulders—he still emanated a sense of majesty.
Just being face to face with Him made one want to bow their head and kneel.
Erica, whom the God King regarded as a mere attendant, had already turned deathly pale, but she remained standing through sheer force of will.
"However, I will not allow my treasures to be sullied by vermin. I will naturally erase this island from the ocean. But you two can hurry back to the surface and busy yourselves with your own kind. Perhaps you can prevent some of your little people from sinking into the sea along with it. But all this will happen after my battle with that Eastern war god."
"I see. So this is a Heretic God who defies myth. Even a righteous guardian of a city-state can reveal such a self-centered side." After having witnessed the war god Verethragna, he now had a vague concept of such beings.
"Hahaha, my boy, you only understand this now! Or are you saying you wish to stop me here? To challenge me, the King of Gods, with the skills you have acquired from outside this domain!"
The God King's laughter shook the underground temple.
This was not a metaphor. The ground, the walls, and the ceiling were literally shaking as if in an earthquake.
The spring water churned violently, and Erica felt a shocking sensation on her skin, as if from an electric current.
She turned her gaze to Seiya. Having witnessed his battle with the young war god, Erica was already prepared to be blown away by the aftershocks of another fight. But to her surprise, Seiya shook his head.
"You and I will have our battle, but not now."
The moment Seiya's words fell, tens of thousands of locusts swarmed from all corners of the underground temple towards this uninvited guest. But their attack was destined to hit empty air.
Before Erica could even understand what was happening, she found that Seiya had grabbed her hand and they were now standing in the forest.
What had just happened? Was it a grand spell of spatial transfer? Or some kind of illusion? But no matter how Erica tried to discern it, the world before her was the same forest they had come from.
"It seems His Majesty the God King has no intention of sparing this land. Perhaps in his eyes, the Italians who occupy Sardinia are themselves guilty. But this will all happen after his decisive battle with the war god, hmm?"
Just as Seiya was speaking, he saw Erica suddenly do something he never would have expected.
—She knelt on one knee, bowing her proud head before Seiya.
"Permit my sword to rust for you." Erica unfastened Lionheart and held it out horizontally in her palms, its spiritual light mixing with a not-yet-dry drop of blood that fell like a plum blossom. "Before I departed, my uncle advised me, seeing me as the defeated Carthaginian general Hannibal after the Battle of Zama. Yet I saw myself as the victor, Scipio. Before facing a god, I always harbored the dream of emulating my ancestors."
"But now, at this very moment, I profoundly understand the foolishness of my fantasy. And now there is only one thing I wish to do. I want to follow by your side and assist you in becoming the seventh king of this era—a Campione."
_____
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here with another translation! Saint Seiya united by their strength!
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