On the first day of the vacation, nothing much happened.
Erica and Liliana took the opportunity to visit their organization during the day and returned in the evening. Godou and Yuri stayed in the villa with Lucretia, they went to the town for a walk.
As for Leo, he is worried about what trouble Doni would cause. So, he secretly follows Liliana to make sure she is safe.
In the evening, everyone regrouped back at the villa. Nothing happened which worried Leo even more. He rather something did happen and didn't need to keep his guard up and constantly be on guard.
The girls worked hard in the kitchen, trying to make food to impress their man. Liliana is not excluded from it.
"I can't see you as a dense type of guy to not notice the girl is obviously head over heels for you." Lucretia said while lazing on a sofa with a half filled wine glass. "So, I wonder why you are purposely ignoring her affection?"
Leo didn't expect Lucretia would suddenly ask such a question. As for Godou, he is giving Leo a knowing smirk, wanting to tease him for it. But Leo isn't the type of guy that would get flustered over something like this. Which made Godou disappointed by the lack of reaction on Leo's face.
"I have my reasons." Leo said and explained no further as he picked up his wine and took a sip.
"Reasons? Could it be that you already have another lover?" Lucretia asked after giving Leo a head to toe assessment.
Leo does look older despite his youthful look. His eyes look sharp like he has seen many things unlike Godou who still contains youthful innocence. Campione does have a longer lifespan which means it's hard to judge their age from their physical appearance alone.
"Lover?" Godou mutters and looks at Leo with curiosity. He shares similar opinions to Lucretia about Leo's age.
"Lovers… perhaps. They are people important to me." Leo gazed longingly as the girls appeared in his mind one after another.
Lucretia and Godou recognise that longing look. They assumed the people Leo mentioned had died. That's why he made such a longing and nostalgic look. In Lucretia's mind, she pity Liliana because the man she tried to pursue already had someone else in his heart and he didn't look like the type to easily let go of the past.
The two no longer talk about the topic and quickly switch to another.
"So, what are you planning for tomorrow? Erica planned to visit the beach." Godou changed the topic.
"Nothing in particular. I just follow whatever you have in mind." Leo shrugs.
Leo didn't really have any plan or place in mind to visit. In his opinion, this vacation is just a waste of time. But he went along because of the concern that Heretic Gods might descend on Japan. In Italy, they have not just Godou. But also Doni which can make a quick work of any Heretic God dare descend here.
They engage in random chatter for another half an hour before the girls serve the dishes on the table and invite them to eat.
Liliana immediately tries to present the dish she made and asks for his opinion.
"How is it Leo? Is it good?"
"It's great." Leo replied and continued eating without much thought.
Lucretia and Godou give Liliana a pitiable look which made Erica and Yuri confused. Erica tried to whisper to Godou, asking the reason for his reaction and Godou whispered back his reply. In the end, all four are looking at Liliana with pity even though Liliana herself didn't notice because she is too happy with Leo's 'praise' to notice.
After the meal, everyone sat in the living room. They enjoy some snacks and wine as they talk and ask questions to one another.
Yuri is the first to succumb to alcohol. Liliana comes next. Erica still held her alcohol well as she finished at least three bottles herself before she fell. Lucretia didn't seem affected at all except looking a little tipsy with blush on her face. Godou was the last to fall due to his Campione constitution which filters out poison better than the average human. As for Leo, he can't even get drunk because his blood purifies the alcohol itself.
Arianna arrived to help carry everyone to their room. Leaving only Leo and Lucretia in the living room that is filled with empty wine bottles littered around.
"A body that purifies poison must be sucks. I can't imagine myself incapable of being drunk and indulging with alcohol." Lucretia sighed with a blushed face looking at Leo suggestively.
"It is." Leo ignored the look given to him before he stood up. "I will go out to get some fresh air." He said before he left.
"Oh, take your time." She said with a grin.
She was just trying to test Leo's temperament. It seems her assumption of him must be correct. Liliana will face an uphill struggle to win his heart if he still has any to spare considering his absolute lack of interest in her body that no man could resist. But being given such a cold shoulder made her want him more which is a shame because she already has Godou. She licks her lips remembering about Godou.
———
On the rooftop, Leo took out the cigarette pack and pulled one half way out before pulling it out from the pack with his lips. Then he lit it up with a fire he conjured before taking a deep puff. Even if the nicotine, tar and other substances would be purified from his body, it would still last long enough to give him the kick as he can feel his mind dulled a little as he exhales.
He watches the smoke float away before fading into nothing.
Was he stressed? Maybe.
Leo was thinking about Liliana. He isn't unaware of what the others were thinking. In some way, Leo can be considered playing with Lilian's feelings because he knew he wouldn't be able to accept her affection yet he wouldn't tell her because she is too useful to be eliminated.
Why is it that he cannot accept her feelings? Is it because he already has Ophis, Mittelt and Ravel? No. That's not the case.
He never wanted to accept their affection in the first place. He wouldn't do it if not for his System. Then, is it because he cannot profit from Liliana? Probably. He can't deny this didn't affect his decision.
In his eyes, females are just a problem. They are very difficult to understand. Very illogical creatures that like to overthink stuff and make a big deal out of it. He had his fair share of this bad experience in his first life. But that changed a bit in the DxD world. He gets to experience that not all females are like that. However, it's hard to change his impression that is deeply rooted in his mind and his personality to actively stay away from anything that looks troublesome, which didn't help at all.
But deep down, he knows the true reason is because he is lazy. It's procrastination. He didn't want to tie himself down with a woman. He tolerated the other three because he didn't really see them as love interests. At most just as younger sisters.
Leo sighed and turned to his cigarette and saw it already burnt out while he was deeply immersed in his thoughts. He conjures a fire and incinerates the cigarette butt before lighting up and taking a deep drag of the smoke filled with harmful substances into his lung.
*Hoot* *Hoot*
An owl flew by and landed next to him. Leo noticed it's the familiar owl of Athena.
"Becareful, I sensed multiple Heretic Gods descended." Athena's voice suddenly appeared from the owl. The owl leaves as fast as possible once its task is done.
"Multiple Heretic Gods?" Leo was confused and also concerned as he immediately used his Magic to scan the entire island.
Two pings. Which means he sensed two Heretic Gods. But his intuition tells him that's not all.
Leo created a powerful barrier around the villa and a few spells before he left.
(Leo mirrors my preference and I am really that type of person. I have met my fair share of experience with females from when I'm young to now. None of them are pleasant and scarred me till now, especially when I was basically bullied by them from elementary to primary school because I'm mixed race and from a poor family. This mirrors Leo who is struggling in his early days since he is an orphan fending for himself. You can imagine how it went especially when he is involved with gang=discrimination.)
———
"Tch. Just when I finished my preparation." The blond youth scowled for a moment as he drew his sword. But his face turned into a smile a moment later.
"Look who we have here?" He said while looking at a Pegasus rode by a handsome man in white clothes and cloak wielding a bow.
"Hmn? A Godslayer." The man on the Pegasus said before carefully looking at Doni. "No, you are not him." The Heretic God said before losing interest in Doni and left with his Pegasus
"Hey! Don't you dare run!" Doni tried to chase but he couldn't keep up with the Pegasus' speed.
Doni looked puzzled and wondered what was happening. A Heretic God rarely chooses an opponent and would fight any Campione they encountered. But not this one apparently.
*Ring* *Ring* *Rin-
"Hello? Yeah… Yes. I met the Heretic God just now but he left very quickly… Huh! More than one? …Three Heretic Gods?!" Doni is in disbelief. He thought he might have misheard it. "Alright, I'll pursue them for now."
After the call ended, Doni sprinted as fast as possible while he quickly dialed another number.
Meanwhile, Leo arrived at one of the Heretic God he sensed. As soon as he arrived at the vicinity, he could feel a wave of heat blowing past him. The land was scorched and stone melted into magma. Standing proudly on the burning landscape is a man dressed in ancient toga and surrounded by fire.
"So you arrived, Godslayer. Or should I call you my nephew? O' son of my foolish brother, Epimetheus." The Heretic God stood there calmly while talking to Leo.
Leo finds this Heretic God odd. Indeed he caused some destruction. But it was in the middle of nowhere. Instead of causing destruction, he waited there patiently for Leo to arrive instead of moving like the other Heretic God he sensed. This Heretic God didn't act like one at all.
"What are you?" Leo asked as he approached the Heretic God even more despite the heat of the surroundings.
"A Heretic God. What else could I be? Although I guess your real question is what am I doing. Right?"
Leo instantly became wary and equipped his gear without a second thought.
"How crude. You must have think I could read your thoughts. But I am simply guessing them and it turns out to be correct if this is how you reacted." The Heretic God shrugged before he talked again. "To be honest, I also didn't want to descend. But it's rare for him to give me a task. Not to mention the reward is too good to pass. So, here I am to kill you."
Suddenly the head increases rapidly as the fire burns more vigorously until the landscape turns into the image of hell with fire and magma that will burn anyone into ashes if not careful.
Leo immediately summons his weapon. Not Saw Cleaver. But a green greatsword. He had a feeling his Saw Cleaver would be unsuitable for this encounter.
He noticed the look on the Heretic God's eyes, it's the look of confirmation. As if he just saw something on the greatsword that confirmed his suspicion.
There is no word that needs to be exchanged. Fire erupts from the ground like a geyser and from the sky. Leo rushed forward instead of dodging because there was nowhere for him to run when the entire battlefield had turned into molten magma. His only option is to end this quick and fast.
He cast several spells in quick succession while charging on the Heretic God. The ice javelins formed in the sky before raining down on the Heretic God but failed to do any substantial damage. But that didn't matter because his real objective is to create a path for himself and the ice meeting magma immediately creates a mist which Leo used to create illusions for distraction.
But, just as Leo is about to approach his opponent. An arrow flew toward him out of nowhere. Forcing him to use Quickening to escape and reassess the situation.
"Perseus. You were instructed by him too, huh." The Heretic God of Fire said.
"Indeed and I'm not the only one, Prometheus." Perseus said and looked at the sky that brightened up like the sun appearing in the night. "Helios was ordered to participate too because I was forced to descend as Perseus only. We need a Sun God to disable his strongest authority."
Leo heard what they talked and couldn't help but feel very alarmed. Three Heretic Gods at a time? He looks at the two Heretic Gods and then looks at the sky that gradually brightens up.
'The third Heretic God hadn't fully descended yet.' Leo said as he can feel Hecate's authorities hadn't been sealed yet. 'I have to kill one of them quickly before it is sealed.' Leo made a quick strategy.
Leo didn't have much information about Perseus except he is a hero in Greek mythology that slayed Medusa. His best bet is to kill Prometheus now since he is the most troublesome one with terrain altering power.
He quickly dismissed the greatsword which the two Heretic Gods noticed and confused if Leo is simply giving up because the odds are stacked against him or have another plan. But what happened next shocked them.
A golden halo appeared above his head and six pairs of wings unfurled behind his back. It's unmistakably the appearance of an angel and not just any angel. But an angel of the highest order.
Leo didn't hold back anything and use Holy Power to the max. Pumping every last drop of mana he can muster into the pink Light Spear in his hand.
Why bother holding back his Magic power if they're gonna be sealed anyway?
Perseus immediately took out a bronze shield to protect himself while Prometheus tried to steal Leo's authority but failed.
"Why can't I steal his authority!" Prometheus panicked as he cannot steal the angel authority Leo is using.
Prometheus didn't think it probably isn't an authority. He was in a panic because he can feel the spear in Leo's hand will end him if he cannot stop Leo.
Then in a quick instance, Leo lunges at the Light Spear like a javelin which creates a pink streak from his hand to Prometheus. The spear traveled in an instant, the moment Leo released his hand, the spear already pierced Prometheus. There isn't any chance to escape or block.
*Crack*
A cracking sound of a glass that isn't loud but audible to anyone no matter how far they are before a brilliant explosion shook the entire island of Sardinia. An explosion that drowned all light and sound. Just a blinding and deafening explosion that lasts just a few seconds. What is left in its wake is a kilometer wide crater with unknown depth since its bottom isn't visible.
Leo looked visibly ragged after that attack. The attack had taken more stamina out of him than he expected. Even if the attack primarily uses mana, he still needs his physical body to perform the attack and it drained quite a lot more than he expected.
He landed on the ground as he felt his authority slowly rapidly being sealed along with his empowerments.
*Swish* *Swish* *Swish*
Flurry of arrows flew toward Leo. He barely dodged the first one that whizzed past his head but the next one hit his shoulder and the next his thigh. Without end, the arrows rained on Leo. He tried to dodge but it's too much as more and more hit their mark.
Perseus already knew what Leo is capable of and didn't dare to challenge him into a melee combat. That's why he is turning Leo into a porcupine with his arrows. He can feel Leo's strength is weakening with the sun fully emerging on the sky.
"Oi, Oi, Someone is already having fun with me."
Perseus suddenly alerted of a presence behind him and quickly willed the Pegasus to dodge. A sword sailed past him just barely to prevent himself from being bisected.
"Yo! Gotchu again. Don't try to run this time." Doni appears with the sword now resting on his shoulder nonchalantly while he is looking at Leo ripping out arrows from his body. Then he looked at the crater.
"You were here right? Tell me, is he the one that created that crater?" Doni points at Leo while asking Perseus with excitement and curiosity in his voice.
Perseus didn't answer and instead summoned a sword and attacked Doni. He didn't expect his target would have such a trump card hidden in his sleeve. Even when he looks heavily injured from recklessly using his trump card, Perseus knows with Leo's regenerative power, he will be back to tip top shape in no time. Then with the addition of new Godslayer, Doni. He didn't know how this assassination attempt would go. So, he must kill Doni or at least distract him long enough for Helios to finish off the weakened Leo.
Perseus made few rapid swings and stabs. But the Doni easily parried and dodged most with his expertise and mastery of swordsmanship that seemed to eclipse even the Heretic God Perseus.
'Tch, if only I can use my incarnation of Mithra! Damn that Zeus!' Perseus cursed as he slowly was suppressed by Doni. No amount of defense can halt Doni with his Ripping Silver Arm of Nuadha.
"Oi, Oi, can you really afford to be distracted like that? It seems I am not attacking enough for you to take me seriously, huh?" Doni stopped his assault for a moment and transformed his dominant arm into a silver arm before he resumed.
The moment his sword struck Perseus's sword, it emits a powerful burst of energy and instantly clears through which leaves the Heretic God in shock and quickly dodges but still leaves him wounded with a gash that runs along his abdomen to his left thigh that was protected with Divinity of Steel.
Seeing his current incarnation is inferior to Doni. Perseus knows that stalling with a fight isn't possible anymore. But he still needs a bit more time.
"You Godslayer. Cease this meaningless battle and lend me your ears for a moment." Perseus persuaded Doni who stopped for a moment and listened. Perseus smiled as his words caught Doni's interest. "That kin of yours is a danger to this world! You must believe me. He isn't a human at all. He is a menace that will bring ruin to the world."
Listening to this, Doni felt disappointed. "I thought you still had some tricks up your sleeves. But to think you will use such low level deception to turn me against my buddy's friend. That's new." He said with some hint of surprise.
"No! You don't understand! That man isn't a human! He is the agent of the Outer Gods!" Perseus is already at the verge of pulling his hair when trying to convince Doni.
It's a pity Perseus is talking logic to Doni. Doni is notorious for being an idiot even when he is actually very intelligent. His obsession with sword left him to be quite single-minded and solve anything with sword. Hence, talking logic to someone like Doni is no different than trying to talk to a wall unless it's something that interests him.
"Outer God? What's that? It's the first time I heard about that." Doni tried to recall the words with his sword tapping his shoulder. But he cannot recall anything.
"Outer Gods are gods from outside our reality. Unlike us, they are creatures that often embody Chaos and Madness. Their only instinct is to cause destruction and leave nothing intact in their path."
"Who!" Perseus, who is already at the edge of his feet, almost jumped when hearing another voice nearby.
Doni also turned his head to his left to see Athena sitting on a boulder with a flock of Owls around her.
"Oh, Godou's prey." Doni greeted Athena.
"Athena? Great! You should understand the severity of this matter right? Help me and quickly kill that Outer God's agent!" Perseus turned glad when he saw another Heretic God from Greek mythology.
Athena shook her head to Perseus's request.
"I can't. Even if I could, I wouldn't dare accept such suicidal task." Athena denies the request.
"Are you insane! You are cooperating with an enemy!" Perseus said in a shock.
"To be fair, I hadn't noticed at that time." Athena shrugs.
"Though, I would say it's a futile endeavor. Even with Helios, it wouldn't be sufficient to take him down because he is already capable of killing Hecate with his own strength even before becoming a Campione." Athena shares her opinion as she looks at Leo who is done plucking out all the arrows on his body and injecting himself with a syringe filled with blood. "Do you think Helios has a chance of winning when he is a Campione now?"
Perseus took in the information and slowly turned his eyes to Leo. Leo already healed all his injury and didn't bother looking at him since Doni was already taking care of him. Instead, Leo turned towards the direction of the sun with his weapon ready in his hands.
"Damn, he is really that badass? I really want to fight him right now." Doni feels excited after hearing Leo's feat. But he cannot challenge Leo now since he has another Heretic God to fight.
"You can go back and tell that bastard Zeus of his foolishness." Athena almost spat when mentioning that name. "All he achieved is only feeding him more power." Athena then vanishes into shadow after she is done talking to Perseus.
Perseus really didn't want to believe what Athena said but who is she? She is the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare. Even Zeus consulted her for strategy and when she said the force Zeus sent was insufficient. She really meant it.
In fact, Perseus didn't need Athena's advice. The way Leo stands and presents himself before his opponent is filled with confidence. There is no hesitation, doubt or fear. All there was were confidence, like a hunter with his bow aimed at his prey and waiting to let loose the arrow for a perfect shot.
It was at this moment Perseus know, he fucked up. He was overconfident, thinking three Heretic Gods is sufficient to take down Leo. He should have known that Zeus, although quite arrogant and foolish, is still the shrewd and deceitful King of God. He finally realized he was used by Zeus. Helios, Prometheus and himself are nothing but cannon fodder to exhaust Leo before Zeus himself descends to kill Leo.
'No! I cannot die here! I am unwilling to die as mere cannon fodder!' Perseus instantly thought and decided to flee even if it's dishonorable. He is unwilling to be used as a mere pawn by Zeus.
"Oi, who said you can leave?" Doni suddenly put his hand on his shoulder and stopped him. "We still have a fight to finish."
"Damnit!" Perseus cursed with all his frustration and anger.
—————
(For those that hadn't guessed it, Zeus saw the memories of him from other timelines ruined by numerous RAYs. It's canon that Campione verse have multiple parallel universes connected to one another. So receiving memories from other destroyed timelines isn't that far-fetched.
This gonna be an all out battle with multiple gods descending from the divine realm to kill Leo. So, any more suggestions of Greek mythology gods is welcomed. As usual, must be one with authority that fits Leo's fighting style.)
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