Due to the descent of Clytius, Leo has to suddenly leave Japan. He has to apply for a leave from the principal which he made a phone call and said he has an urgent family matter to attend to.
Anyway, because of that. Leo now found himself on an island far away from civilization somewhere in the Pacific. It was a private island acquired by Bronze Black Cross for his purpose of killing the Heretic God. Which they reluctantly agreed to because it didn't really benefit them much. Leo didn't know what happened in the background since Liliana didn't really inform him of such a matter.
Regardless, here they are. Leo and Liliana along with a dozen staff which are members of Bronze Black Cross that will be tasked to attend to his need for the following days of his stay on this island.
"Welcome, Lord Campiona and his Knight." A girl with turquoise green hair, around the age of 14-15 and wearing a maid outfit, greeted Leo and Liliana as soon as they arrived on a seaplane.
"Karen?" Liliana was surprised to see someone she knew. She quickly went and greeted her friend and also maid.
"Hmn. Your friend?" Leo stepped on the beach and approached the duo.
"Yes. Ah, let me introduce her." Liliana presented the girl and said, "She is Karen Jankulovski. An apprentice witch under my family and my personal maid back at the Bronze Black Cross."
"It's a great honor to be graced by your presence, Lord Campione." Karen bowed respectfully which made Leo feel uncomfortable but accepted since this is the common etiquette for them.
Liliana noticed his discomfort and quickly made Karen end her greeting and pulled her away for a second to talk something while Leo was left confused. He could definitely heighten his hearing but he didn't really feel like invading their privacy since they were purposely being secretive from him.
After a while, they returned.
"Did they prepare what I asked for?" Liliana asks Karen.
"Yes. It's inside the house." Karen points at the beach house behind her.
"Great. Then I will be reading some books to study about the Heretic God." Then she turns to Leo. "Leo. You can enjoy your stay. We would like you to be well rested and prepared for the Heretic God. Karen and the staff will provide for anything you need."
Leo nods and goes along with Lilliana's plan. He looks around while Liliana enters the beach house and tries to figure out what he can do.
Leo saw a pier by the beach, a small lounging area set up in the yard and other recreational facilities. It's supposed to be a private vacation island after all.
He walked towards the pier and sat there. The sun didn't really feel hot to him since his body has a higher tolerance.
The salty and refreshing breeze and calming sound of the wave made him feel relaxed. Besides, the ocean always felt special to him. Like he was close to home. Maybe because of his eldritch heritage although he didn't know how the ocean invoked the feeling of the realm beyond, the outer void where most Eldritch Gods lived.
Leo also noticed the maid, Karen followed and stood behind him awaiting any order he might have for her. Leo turns his head around to take a look at her to open her profile before turning back facing the sea. His action earned a confused look from the maid but it didn't bother him as he looked at the screen that appeared.
[Name: Karen Jankulovski
Conquest Rating:★
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 14
Personality: Mischievous, Dutiful, Loyal
Affection: 180/1000 (Respect)
Likes: ???
Dislike: ???
Current thoughts: Very curious about your relationship and the progress with Liliana Kranjcar.]
'Great. A mischievous one that likes to push people's button type.' He thought and decided it's better to keep her at arm's length.
[*Cough*]
'No' Leo replied without even needing a context because he already knew what his System wanted.
[Tch.]
The System expressed its irritation before it went back to silent.
———
Few hours later.
Karen had been accompanying Campione but couldn't help but question his mind. He had been sitting on the pier and simply staring at the sea the whole time until the sun started to set.
"Lord Campione, it will soon be time for dinner. Should I have it arranged here on the pier?"
"No. No need. You can tell Liliana to eat without me." Leo replied as his eyes stayed fixed on the sun, waiting for it to fully set down.
"A-Alright…" Karen bowed before she left the pier.
On her way to the beach house, she said, "What a strange guy skipping lunch and dinner. Even Campione should be able to get hungry." Then she sneaked a glance at him again and saw the sun fully set in the horizon as the moon took over its place.
Suddenly, a powerful mana signature like a powerful tidal wave swept over her and everyone else definitely felt it too. But she is a Witch even though still an apprentice. Her mana sense is greater than others which allow her to feel just how monstrous the mana signature was.
"Right… Lilliana's report said his authority is sealed during the daytime and I thought it was a joke." Karen said because even when his authority is sealed, he still felt very strong that she cannot tell the difference between other Campione.
She can feel the boundless energy from the sky and moon seeping into his body like a whirlpool, sucking everything away.
In her mind, she cannot help but be happy. "No wonder Voban lost! The Bronze Black Cross- No, Liliana hit a jackpot. This guy is too insane." Karen gulped as she fell entranced by the momentum of his power.
"Crap, my leg feels weak." Karen cursed as she felt her legs become jelly as she quickly dragged herself into the house.
———
When the day turns to night, Leo lifts his hand to the sky as if he was summoning something. Then the endless energy from the two aspects of nature, the darkness of night and the Moon begin pouring their power into Leo to empower him.
Today, Leo decided to train magic which he rarely did because lacking opportunity and place. He could train in Hunter's Dream actually but he would rather not destroy the place.
As for magic… Leo isn't exactly a trained spell caster. At most he had experienced mostly moulding mana into weapons like how he used Holy Power and using imagination to manipulate mana like Demonic Power. The latter one is more used because of its flexibility in battle but also has big glaring weaknesses which he has to concentrate on and leave himself vulnerable to be attacked. So, most of the time. Leo only uses magic outside of battle.
However, those weaknesses are a result of Leo's lack of experience and mastery over magic. With adequate training, he could definitely cast spells faster and learn a wider variety of spells to use. Hence the training right now.
Leo extended his hand forward and imagined himself gripping something in the air before a pink Light Spear appeared. He gives it a twirl and tests out the spear as a weapon. He didn't really understand why this Spear that supposedly Mittelt's form of choice for Light Spear, is made like it was meant to be wielded.
Although it was called a Light Spear. Its original use is more of a throwing weapon. A projectile essential because of how fragile it was. Once the spear breaks, the mana would explode just like how a carbonated can of drink would if it cracked.
He stood up and then willed the Holy Power to form a pair of wings. A pair of wings condensed out of Holy Power formed behind him and flapped a few times, creating a powerful wind pressure that instantly kicked him up into the air.
Then he looks at the ocean in front of him, thinking of testing his might but lacking an opponent. But he suddenly remembered the old Campione.
"Right. I can just ask him to be my pu- sparring partner." Leo said and immediately initiated a telepathy to Voban since he is now a Undead Servant of his own.
'I thought you would never ask! Besides, this old man is itching for a rematch.' Voban replied excitedly and accepted his summon using the Attendant of Persephone authority.
"On the sea?" Voban comments once he uses his magic to float and takes a look around. "Well, let's get started."
"This old man is unsatisfied with those paltry fights those knights and mages offered to me. Only you can truly make my blood boil in anticipation."
"The three deities of weather, answer my call and lend me your strength!"
Dark clouds suddenly gather and form a thunderstorm above them as it rains heavily along with heavy winds blowing and thunder ripping through the sky like an apocalyptic event is ensuing.
Leo quickly dodge to the side as a thunderbolt as thick as a telephone pole smited that position. Then he uses Electrokinesis to redirect the thunderbolt back to Voban. Since he absorbed Takemikazuchi's Blood Echoes, his control of electricity has increased leaps and bounds. Strong enough to do what was previously impossible to him.
"Your trick is getting stale, old man." Leo taunts Voban who just ate the thunderbolt to his face.
"Arrogant brat. Let me teach you why I am the most feared Campione." Voban spat with a happy grin on his face and created a red thunderbolt in between his palm and made it become thicker and thicker before unleashing a cone shaped field covered by the red thunderbolt like a net. However, Voban didn't expect Leo to be very fast with his wing to escape the net that traveled as fast as lightning does.
Leo floats in the sky with the pink Light Spear being pumped with copious amounts of mana before he launches it like a javelin at Voban and explodes into a brilliant halo of holy light bathing the night sky bright as day for a few seconds.
As the batt- *cough* spar, rage on between Leo and Voban. The staff from Bronze Black Cross in the island along with Liliana can only watch with a slack jaw as the shockwave shook the tiny island and tsunami level waves came crashing at them.
"We're gonna die…" One of male staff said as they watched helplessly as the wave as tall as 40 meters was heading toward them.
"Mama! I don't wanna die a virgin! I didn't fulfill all my dreams!" Another shouted which earned an irritated look from Liliana. However, they are right, there's nothing they can do. Liliana could at least fly but not the others.
Just as all hope is lost, a phantom of a gigantic purple serpent slither out of existence and coiled its body around the island and blocked the tsunami wave.
They looked at the sky and saw Leo summon the snake when he realized his fight affected them. Voban looked impressed and very intrigued by the snake which made him pause and ask Leo about it.
"It's just a familiar I conjured with magic." Leo answered which technically is true based on the principle of how Ophis' Snake skill works.
Then they resume their fight.
Thunder and Wind raged above the sea as Voban calmly manipulate his power like a master tactician, employing tactics and strategies to outmaneuver Leo but Leo is simply too agile and his power seems to have no limit as he increase his wings whenever he feel pressured until it reached five pair and a dazzling halo appeared on his head looking like a divine god descend on earth which stirred the Bronze Black Cross members who are technically believed in Christianity since their organization are a Templar Order from the crusade.
In his final act, Leo makes another Light Spear that points into the sky and rapidly expands until it becomes a hundred meter long spear thrumming with vast power even Voban feels a shiver down his spine.
"You are going overboard on this!" Voban shouts as he desperately tries to defend.
"Heh, said the one that wanted to educate me on the difference in our power. Then, let me show you the difference." Leo laughed maniacally, swept by the adrenaline of battle and unleashed the divine spear from heaven, crashing down on Voban.
"I will remember this, brat!" Voban howled as his body disintegrated from the attack as the spear cracked and exploded into a pillar of light piercing through the sky.
Leo saw the explosion displaced too much water and created a wave hundred meters tall and a crater in the seabed. "Crap!" He cursed himself for getting too excited and forgot about the consequences of his attack.
Leo quickly conjures another snake phantom resembling the Serpent of Midgard, Jormungandr to quell the wave. Before he can make a relieved sigh.
Although there is a big disturbance, Leo manages to get a feel of his Magic and Holy Power.
Leo quickly resurrected back the old Campione which instantly cried out for a rematch, dissatisfied with the results saying he hadn't shown his full power.
"Yeah yeah, sore loser. But not now. Maybe tomorrow." He said and sent him back to his place.
As soon as Leo returns to the island, a pair of hands grab his shoulder and shake him violently.
"What have you done! This will be very hard to conceal from the public!" Liliana panicked on Leo.
"Calm down. I placed a barrier beforehand. No one can see what happened here from the outside. Although the effect of the battle might have leaked out." Leo gives the girl a hug to pacify her which works like a wonder as her brain instantly fried and her body seized up.
Karen in the background busily taking scoops like an expert photographer with an expensive camera that has a long lense attached she pulled out of nowhere. All while making weird excited noises.
'These people are weird.' Leo thought and decided to take a rest while trying to digest all the experiences and insights he gained from the sparring.
—————
If you readers feel generous or want to appreciate my work and effort, feel free to tip me here.
https://ko-fi.com/lazy_kat_aoi