Chapter 366: Campione
A golden-haired maiden as beautiful as a rose in her red dress was leaping nimbly across rooftops while holding a slender sword.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me..."
Such prayers spilled from the maiden's lips, though in truth she was chanting incantations.
Thus, supernatural power emanated from the maiden, granting her superhuman capabilities.
This was why she could leap so lightly between buildings dozens of meters apart.
The maiden was pursuing an anomaly—a camel, but not an ordinary desert camel.
It was a Divine Beast, yet also a Heretic God Beast that would bring calamity to the human world.
In the past, during primitive times, they already existed—nameless and formless.
Back then, humanity's limited knowledge was insufficient to comprehend everything.
Thus, humans attributed natural disasters like torrential rains and floods to the wrath of these formless gods, and when encountering dangerous beasts during these calamities, worshipped them as divine incarnations or messengers.
Humans believed that by properly serving these dangerous beasts, the gods would not unleash their wrath.
Then, over long ages, humans bestowed names upon the gods and wove myths around them.
Such as Gaia, the Earth's creator god, and Nüwa.
Such as Verethragna and Ares, Gods of War symbolizing conflict.
Humans gave these gods names and crafted myths about their deeds, defining their divine duties.
Thus, gods could be said to be born from human hands.
Gods who received names and myths would normally not act beyond these two aspects—when bestowing blessings upon humans or receiving offerings, they would act according to their designated duties without overstepping.
Thereby, humans could prepare for both the threats and blessings from the gods.
However, when gods acted beyond their designated roles, returning to the primitive state unbound by myths, such gods were called—Heretic Gods.
These gods, acting contrary to the myths woven by humans, wandering upon the earth, would bring disasters to the mortal world.
For example, if a Sun God descended, the world would become unbearably hot.
For example, if a Sea God descended, the oceans would roar, and colossal waves would sweep across the land.
Thus, these gods who defied their myths, bringing calamity to the earthly realm according to their own whims, were what are called—Heretic Gods.
Yet, these Heretic Gods also had natural enemies—special humans crowned with the name Campione.
When these Heretic Gods brought chaos to the human world, heroic figures would sometimes emerge to stop or even slay them.
Despite the vast gap between humans and gods, occasionally miracles seemed to occur, allowing humans to defeat the Heretic Gods.
Therefore, humans who defeat Heretic Gods undergo sublimation!
Those who slay Heretic Gods shall inherit their divine authorities, wielding the power of gods.
Thus, they become the pinnacle of existence in this world.
They are kings—for they can slaughter celestial deities and seize supreme power to wield as their own.
They are conquerors—for through the stolen divine authorities, they can dominate all who dwell upon the earth.
They are also Satan—for no living being on this earth possesses the strength to resist them.
Of course, such Campione are not found everywhere; otherwise, this world would have long been ruined.
Up to now, there are only six Campione in this world.
As for the young girl currently pursuing this Heretic Divine Beast—Erica Blandelli, eldest daughter of the prestigious magus family, the Blandellis—it is not because she desires to become a Campione.
Nor is it that she doesn't wish to become one; rather, she is self-aware enough to understand how difficult it is to achieve such a feat.
Her goal is merely to seal this Divine Beast.
Accomplishing even that would be a remarkable achievement, one that would become a shining milestone in her legacy.
Only such a feat would be worthy of the title Diavolo Rosso that Erica has inherited.
Thus, at just fifteen years of age, upon receiving news of a Heretic God's trail, she pursued it—and now witnessed the anomalous camel before her...
"...Let me proclaim the name of the Lord. Praise Him at the center of the world, convert and devote yourself to Him!"
The name of this technique was "My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?"—an art passed down within Erica's organization, the Copper Black Cross, recognized as one of the most challenging secret techniques.
And so, she succeeded in her chant. In an instant, the surroundings turned piercingly cold—a frigid air that would cause cardiac arrest in any ordinary person exposed to it, the same chill felt when the Son of God perished.
This cold was the manifestation of Erica's power.
Then, her lips parted once more.
"Cuore di Leone, I bestow upon you the lamentations of the Son of God and the Holy Spirit—become the Spear of Longinus!"
Chanting a new spell, she succeeded yet again. The beloved sword in her hand was imbued with transformation magecraft, morphing into a spear.
She intended to hurl this spear at the Divine Beast.
Ahead of the Divine Beast lay a densely populated area; if it charged in, massive casualties would ensue.
If she continued chasing at her current speed, she wouldn't make it in time.
"Saint Thomas, share thy martyrdom with others!"
With this new spell, the holy spear that slew the Son of God was hurled forth, transforming into a streak of cold light that struck—
"Huh?"
It should have possessed unerring accuracy, yet the holy spear veered off course—wildly so, veering into the sky.
Had her spell failed?
She tried to recall the holy spear, but there was no response?
What was happening?
Her pupils contracted as Erica noticed the spear lodged in mid-air, as if piercing the sky, half-submerged and invisible.
Not only that, but cracks were spreading from the point of impact?
Crack, crack, crack—!
The more the cracks spread, the more tense Erica became.
With a shattering sound, like glass breaking, a hole tore open in the sky.
"W-What is this?"
Countless feathers, originally pure white, now stained with blood so dark it appeared black, drifted down.
Her pupils contracted. The scene within the ruptured hole made Erica tremble in horror.