"This is taking forever." Leo sighed.
For the past half an hour, he had been traveling around trying to search for a god to slay which is suitable for his purpose. But for a long while, all he had found was unsuitable. Most are minor deities or those that didn't have the trait he was looking for.
"Should I try looking outside of Japan?" Leo mutters.
The issue is he isn't that well informed about Japanese Mythology. The few he considered were Susanoo, Takemikazuchi, Futsunushi-no-Kami, etc, those that displayed in myth to wield weapons or a hero because he was looking for God of Steel which Liliana said were the ones he was looking for.
Before he gave up, Leo decided to give it another try and continue to search for a bit more. He gave order to the owl and it gave Leo an understanding *hoot* before it spread its wings and soars the sky again.
Leo follows the owl by jumping through the terrain with his incredible physique. Suddenly he remembers something and opens his status. His eyes went to the ability 'Usurper of Luck'. He almost forgot it because he rarely opens his status.
[About time… *Sigh*] The System suddenly voiced itself.
[Your ability had been collecting dust over here waiting to be used. Do you need a guide or explanation?]
"No." Leo felt he was being ridiculed by his System.
[Help yourself then. Imma marathon One Piece again waiting for my turn.]
"..."
Somehow, Leo felt his System was being salty over something.
Anyway, Leo used 'Usurper of Luck' and he observed a big chunk of his Luck stat vanished. The description said the amount of Luck paid is proportional to the difficulty of what he wished to happen and he wished to encounter either one of the gods he mentioned before.
Another while later, the owl suddenly stopped and hovered around. He didn't even need to look for the god as he was already showing himself to Leo.
A young looking warrior with long black hair tied into a ponytail. He wears combat gear with a short white kimono and a tiger fur obi around his waist that carry a yellow and white katana.
"I heard from my aunt there is a God Slayer intruding upon our realm and prattling around. I didn't think it was true." The god said with a calm smile on his youthful face that made others feel he is harmless but Leo can't say the same because he can feel a raging battle intent from the god. "Yet, look and behold, I was wrong. To think there is indeed a God Slayer here."
"I wonder what is your reason for intruding upon our realm, God Slayer?" The gods were truly perplexed by Leo's presence here and asked.
"Is that even a question I have to answer?" Leo replied after he landed on the ground and facing the god.
"I see. The rumor is indeed true about your kind. Nothing but an unsavory bloodthirsty bunch." The god sighed and drew his blade. "However, I must say my condolences to you. Perhaps you are uninformed or simply too reckless because a god in its realm is way stronger than those that descend upon Earth." They god truly said with a genuine emotion behind his words.
"Since your intention is clear, allow me to introduce myself. I am Takemikazuchi-no-Kami, God of Thunder and Sword." Takemikazuchi introduced himself with warrior etiquette and next was Leo's turn.
Since the god gave Leo the time to make his preparation and introduce himself, Leo decided to humor the god.
"I am Leonis Ashford, First and foremost, a Hunter of the Dream and a Campione."
"Hunter of the Dream? What an odd title for you to possess. I can't say I ever heard it. But I can feel the mystical weight behind it." The god said before he showed a fierce grin as his katana flashes with violent lightning while dark clouds appear and gather above him.
"Hoot!" The owl cursed and panicked because it was about to get caught in a heated fight between a god and a God Slayer if it didn't flap its wings fast enough to flee.
Leo's newly improved gears equipped itself on him with a single thought before he grip the handle of his Saw Cleaver and Pistol tightly with anticipation. His Campione physique already pumps adrenaline hundreds times more than a normal human into his bloodstream after his mind registering his opponent as a god. His senses and instinct become sharper. His heart was beating loudly in excitement.
Then the raging thunder above moved as the god willed, smiting the ground like the punishment from heaven.
Leo grinned and a few milliseconds before the thunder struck him, Leo vanished into a swirl of silvery white mist. The god saw what happened and immediately raised his guard when his opponent suddenly vanished. He warily observed his field of vision for any sighting before his instinct suddenly spiked and warned him of danger.
*Ting!*
A crisp and loud ricochet sound appeared after the god hastily raised his blade, following the instinct honed as a warrior. His blade just barely deflected a projectile aimed at his head.
Takemikazuchi immediately knows it's the gun Leo held in his hand a moment ago. However, what confused him is why is there no sound at all? He recognised the weapon and understood how it worked which used gunpowder to propel a round bullet. He expected it to be enchanted or something because the God Slayer confidently used it against him.
"!"
Takemikazuchi sensed a disturbance in the air around him and immediately twisted his body with inhuman reflex and blocked a sneak attack from Leo who appeared suddenly behind him with a trail of silvery white mist.
"It was very unhonourable of you to use such petty tricks." Takemikazuchi said.
"I never proclaimed myself as an honorable warrior. Besides, I am a Hunter, not a warrior." Leo replied before breaking off from the clash and landed a few meters from the god.
Takemikazuchi frowned for a moment before he remembered Leo's introduction and said, "You did indeed."
"Sadly, I wish to challenge a God Slayer to test my mettle against. However, since you are not a warrior then this is just a waste of time." Takemikazuchi lifts his free hand up to the sky and the thunderstorm above rages once more before it rains down thunder at Leo.
*Crack* *Bang* *Bang*
Barrage of thunder struck Leo's position very fiercely and kicked up dust and dirt, obscuring the vision. It raged on for a minute before Takemikazuchi stopped and waited for the dust to settle. There, Leo stood unharmed which made the god confused and surprised.
A small radius around Leo was unaffected by the thunder strike, the god thought it's a barrier of some sort that Leo used. But much to his surprise, it isn't.
"You are not the only one who can use lightning." Leo smiled smugly behind his mask as lightning flashes around his body, clearly affecting him but didn't harm him at all.
The truth is, while it's incredibly difficult to control electricity created by others. It's not impossible and requires a lot of concentration. He controlled any electricity that reached a meter around him to reflect away. Thus keeping him safe. But in practicality, dodging is better because he will be vulnerable when he concentrates on maintaining his Electrokinesis.
"That is not an authority… interesting, God Slayer. However, you would be sorely mistaken if you think that is the best I could do." Takemikazuchi said and created a giant image of a dragon out of lightning and attacked Leo.
Leo didn't hesitate to use Quickening to escape.
"Heh, I will not fall for the same trick!" The lightning dragon changed its course and followed the trail of mist.
Leo reappeared and cursed as the dragon opened its jaw and bit down at him but he narrowly escaped with another Quickening. But Takemikazuchi had seen through his Arcane technique. All he needs to do is to command the dragon to follow the trail of mist and attack Leo again when he reappears.
Takemikazuchi made his move and put himself in the direction of the mist and slashed when Leo reappeared, Leo is forced to block with his Saw Cleaver but the lightning dragon immediately crush him with it's jaw which didn't really crush him, but instead trap Leo in a body filled with divine thunder that zap and burn his flesh.
Looking at the severely injured Leo with flesh boiled from the heat. "I would be very disappointed if that's all you can do. Come and show me your real power." Takemikazuchi gives Leo a reprieve to show his capability even though it isn't needed.
After all, Leo's best strength is his healing power. He is like a zombie that will not die and keep raising back as long as he has the will to fight. But since his opponent wants to let him show his power that badly, who is he to deny?
Instantly, the bright sky turns dark as mist rolls over the ground making the scene look haunting. Then one by one the star vanished as the moon grew progressively brighter and brighter until it hung right above them. Its mystical radiance poured down and bathed Leo as his power grew progressively stronger and stronger at a visible rate that put a frown on Takemikazuchi's face.
"So, you were holding back all this while?" Takemikazuchi understands what happened now. Leo's power cannot be used in daytime.
Once the sky darkened as the authority of Hecate turned the day into night, Leo became empowered but he didn't stop there and summoned Blood Moon for another layer of empowerment similar to Gehrman during their fight.
If Leo's power felt like a pond a moment before, now it felt like an ocean as the Night and Moon is pouring him an inexhaustible power.
Instead of feeling fear, Takemikazuchi became more eager and excited. No warrior wouldn't be happy to challenge a powerful foe especially for him who lacks said foe to fight in this divine realm.
"Great! This is wonderful! I must thank you for this opportunity, God Slayer!" Takemikazuchi took a step forward with lightning bursting out his feet and turned into a flash and clashed against Leo's Saw Cleaver that immediately blocked the incoming attack.
Suddenly, the mist around them slowly tainted red like blood. Takemikazuchi felt his sense of danger screaming at him as he saw the previously beautiful mystic brilliance slowly become corrupt and tainted into sanguine radiance.
The Moon turned crimson red and it looked like blood bleeding out of it and bathed Leo in its crimson glow. His complexion morphed to madness but there is a trace of fluctuating glint of clarity in his eyes, wrestling for control to reign in the madness within him.
"RRAAGH!" An annoyed and frustrated growl escaped Leo's throat as he kicked the god in his gut and swung his transformed Saw Cleaver to cleave the god in half.
*Crash*
Sparks burst out when Leo's Cleaver were blocked by the katana placed horizontally by Takemikazuchi as his face showed his shock and terror by their gap of strength.
*Boom!*
The ground caved in as Leo pressed harder and harder to cut through the annoying piece of metal in his way with savage strength.
"Heup! HaAA…HAH!" Takemikazuchi resisted the attack and pushed back with all his strength until his face contorted from all the exertion.
Yet, all he manages to achieve is a slight push that annoyed Leo even further and caused him to knead his gut with a kick that caused a shockwave from the sheer force and throw the god like a ragdoll crashing into several dozen trees and digging a trench with his body sliding through the ground.
Without even a moment to rest, Takemikazuchi opened his eyes and grip his katana only to see a trail of mist flashed towards him.
"He can travel even farther than before?" An exasperated complaint fell out the god's lips as he can already anticipate what will happen next.
Takemikazuchi willed his body to move, he mustered all the strength and willpower to leave his current spot as he rolled on the dirt.
'A proud god like me rolling on the dirt.' Takemikazuchi wanted to laugh at his predicament but he didn't have the luxury for it because a split second later, a blade crashed into the spot he was lying on before and exploded with a large crater left behind. All that is caused with sheer strength alone.
"This is bullshit!" The god said and quickly rolled again and narrowly evaded another powerful strike as he used the momentum to stand up.
Takemikazuchi looked in front of him. That is no longer a human, not a God Slayer nor a hunter the man claimed himself as. It's just a rabid beast fueled by endless madness. There is no style or skill. Just pure brute strength and instinct despite the small trace of clarity in Leo's eyes.
"RAAH!" Another swing with the force that can shatter earth and topple mountains.
Takemikazuchi struggled to block it and only barely parried the horizontal slash from the demented berserker. He can feel his bone rattle and crack from blocking the strike. If this continues, he will lose due to exhaustion and internal injury. He grip his sword tight as blood leaks through the edge of his lips as internal injury worsen.
"It seems I have overestimated myself. But to give up now is an insult to my pride as both a warrior and god. Thus, this is my final act of struggle." Takemikazuchi stood up when Leo halted his assault, seeming like he finally reigned in his madness with full control.
"Thundering blade that rips the heavens and splits the earth. Unleash your wrath and vanquish the evil before me!"
"Futsu no Mitama! Rend!"
The katana in Takemikazuchi's hands explodes with divine power as lightning condensed in its blade before Takemikazuchi slashed the sword down.
In the next second, the world turns bright as deafening explosions drown all noise like thunder. When the light fades, what is left is a bottomless ravine stretched beyond the horizon.
Takemikazuchi fell weakly to the ground as blood gushed out his throat. The attack is very powerful and his body that is littered with internal injury is in no state to unleash that attack. But it's the only attack he has that can counter all Leo's tricks.
"Heh.. *Cough* It's… my vic-"
*Slash*
"-tory…"
*Thud*
Takemikazuchi fell to the ground headless as his head rolled off the ground and fell into the bottomless ravine.
Leo stood behind the unlucky god as he felt the Blood Echoes rushed into his body. This is the second time he absorbs a god's Blood Echoes and it's more manageable than the first as Leo can maintain his consciousness and sort all the memories entering his mind.
During the battle, when Leo summoned the Blood Moon. He indeed loses control as his instinct is overpowering his rationality. But once he got it under control, Leo activated the Titaness of Mist authority to cast a powerful illusion with the mist around the battlefield as medium to show an illusion to Takemikazuchi.
After Leo kicked Takemikazuchi which threw him away like a ragdoll, all that he saw, felt and experienced was just an illusion. A very realistic one too that is no different from reality from an outsider's perspective. But in truth, the mist turns the area into a sandbox-like domain similar to reality marble that makes illusion into reality as long as it is maintained. So, in Takemikazuchi's perspective, everything is real. After the powerful attack by Takemikazuchi, the domain crumbled from the damage and the illusion dispelled. But that didn't matter anymore because what Leo wanted to do had been achieved.
All that is left for Leo to do is to separate the stem(body) and harvest the fruit of his labor(Blood Echoes).
"It tastes so addictive." Leo mutters as the sensation of Blood Echoes absorbed into his body feels very euphoric.
Suddenly, an exhaustion possessed his body despite not really feeling tired. No, this exhaustion is because his soul is being separated from his body just like when he killed Hecate.
Leo immediately opens the gateway back to Earth. He cannot stay here because the other gods definitely noticed this commotion especially after Takemikazuchi's desperate attack.
"Hoot! Hoot!" The owl flew as fast as it could, desperately because Leo forgot about it.
The owl managed to enter the gateway at the nick of time just before it fully closed.
"Hoot…" The owl chirped in relief and then quickly turned to Leo with a resentful look but found the offending man fell flat on the ground unresponsive.
Leo is breathing at least.
The bird hopped up to his head and jumped around beating the head with its wings like it was mocking Leo. It releases all its pent up grievance on this man while he is unconscious.
Once the owl is satisfied, it flies to the empty rack then rests happily and satisfied, thinking no one saw it's deed. Unfortunately, the System did and amused by what had transpired.
[I wonder if Leo would grill the bird alive or pluck it bald.] The System wonder.
(Definitely didn't make Leo go rabid because I'm too lazy to write the dialogue. Yeap, definitely not the reason.😗)
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