Editing On a Godless Planet:Volume2B Chapter 37 (section)

==Chapter 37: Greatest Heavyweights==
[[Image:Godless_2B_341.jpg|thumb]]
–''Here I come!

●

The pressure burst and the shattered White Sword’s ether light spread out to form a circle.

[[Image:godless_ki_shinken.png|50px]]

“Protection Large!”

Ki protected everyone and the tent with a defense barrier. The wind pressure pushed in and flying stones and pebbles tore at the Protection. But…

[[Image:godless_senpai_awate.png|50px]]

“Wh-why isn’t the wind circling around the shield?”

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“Because this is an Auth Spell.”

That was just how it worked. In fact, she had never questioned it before. So that just had to be how it worked.

But something flew by overhead, past the explosive blast, the cloud of dust, the dirt falling back down like rain, and the white air created by the pressure vaporizing the water.

A fragment flew into the night sky.

The red thing was one of Bilgamesh’s artifacts.

[[Image:godless_shifu_akire.png|50px]]

“Wasn’t that called the Red Line Shield?”

Ki was a little glad Shifu remembered the name. It ultimately fell into the river made rough with waves.

[[Image:godless_kawaseirei.png|50px]]

<River, ver, ver, ver.>

The river spirits’ panic was understandable. Even if it was only a fragment, it was still a high-ranking god’s artifact. They likely perceived it as a powerful light or force flying toward them. But…

[[Image:godless_ki_shinken.png|50px]]

“I couldn’t cast my Protection and she destroyed the Red Line Shield. This is ''bad''.”

[[Image:godless_shifu_akire.png|50px]]

“And did you notice how the god of war held that weapon?”

Ki had. The god of war had held the spear in its right hand and swung its left fire sword as a shield.

It used the southpaw style.

They head learned in yesterday’s tabletop mock battle that Bilgamesh had minor difficulties with that. And…

[[Image:godless_ki_shinken.png|50px]]

“Don’t let the same thing happen here! Or this will be ''really bad''.”

●

Athena did not let up.

She had no intention of stopping after one attack. So…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“–––––”

She stepped out from the summer beach into the sea.

A receding wave followed her action, deepening the water some.

''Yes, I know how this works. It was the same at the sea back home.

This foreign sea was the same.

She looked out ahead to see the opposite coast where trade ships traveled. ''No, that was back home,'' she remembered.

She smiled bitterly.

Her memories – her nostalgia – were muddling her thoughts. A wave washed in, warm above her knees and cold at her ankles. That temperature differential told her not to let her guard down. So…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“There.”

She picked up something she spotted below the water. She reached out a hand, the wave hit her at around the gut, and she sensed the flavor of the sea spray soaking into the corners of her mouth.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“A shell.”

It was one half of a small but thick bivalve.

The other half was missing, but she squeezed it and the salty water in her hand.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Oh.”

She saw her reflection in the wave.

●

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“…!”

After a 17-shot barrage from Prota – Phloga Basileus, Athena made a shield bash with Piesi Dory.

Clouds of dust and powerful impacts scattered outward in a circle, eliminating all sound.

But she had made the attack.

She had put the current full strength of her god of war behind it. And…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“––––!”

She noticed something odd in front of her.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

…''A structure!?

It was a temple. Or pillars. Maybe a castle gate? The light golden structure was large enough to walk through in her god of war.

That color came from the lights of the night reflecting off of bronze.

The light looked dull and lightweight. Athena took a closer look at the structure reflecting that light.

And she realized what it was.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Legs!?”

●

Athena saw ''it''. Even with her god of war vision, she had to look up to see it.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Is that…?”

She craned her neck to see.

It was a head. No, a helmet with a naval ram on either side.

She was looking at an armored figure standing more than 50m tall.

●

[[Image:godless_eshita_shinken.png|50px]]

“As inspector, I grant Bilgamesh permission to fully summon the 2nd-class Red Armor. I also grant him special permission to summon the 1st-class Hyper Shield. But the Hyper Shield’s output and form are based on the Red Armor.”

Eshita lightly tapped a Revelation Board. That submitted its contents to the DC and the local copy shattered and vanished.

[[Image:godless_ki_shinken.png|50px]]

“This is ''really bad''.”

[[Image:godless_eshita_shinken.png|50px]]

“Is it? Well, we are giving away a lot of secrets by showing off the higher equipment now that the full set of 3rd-class equipment was destroyed.”

[[Image:godless_ki_shinken.png|50px]]

“Not that.” Ki waved a hand dismissively. “If we don’t win after all this, Shamash is going to make some withering remarks when we return to our virtual manifestations.”

●

Kuwajiri watched the one who called himself a king.

This was her first time seeing this. In fact, she hadn’t even known he could do this.

He stood more than 50m tall, so…

[[Image:godless_kuwajiri.png|50px]]

“Is this the prototype for all gods of war?”

[[Image:godless_raidou.png|50px]]

“Nah, it’s armor. I had a feeling he could do something like this after he enlarged his gauntlet and shield during our fight on the Tama River. I just had to imagine how big he’d be if he did that for the full set.”

[[Image:godless_eshita.png|50px]]

“Bilgamesh ‘equips’ the helmet and the rest is synced to his movements. At its smallest, it can be our size. At its biggest…”

Eshtar laughed bitterly.

[[Image:godless_eshita_warai.png|50px]]

“Maybe I shouldn’t tell you that part. Shamash wouldn’t be happy with me if I did.”

[[Image:godless_senpai_awate.png|50px]]

“I feel a little lost…”

[[Image:godless_boku.png|50px]]

“I can imagine,” said the idiot. “The Tower of Druaga is about a tower that reaches the heavens, which may or may not be the Tower of Babel, except I don’t see how 60 floors could be enough to reach there.”

[[Image:godless_kuwajiri.png|50px]]

“That gear is a class above what he was using before, isn’t it? If he used the full set of 1st-class gear, then 60 floors probably would be enough to reach heaven.”

[[Image:godless_raidou.png|50px]]

“But,” asked Raidou. “How are you supposed to defeat that?”

[[Image:godless_shinobu.png|50px]]

“Ooh, your hunter instincts are showing.”

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“Why am I not surprised?” Enkidu smiled bitterly. “Anyway, let’s just watch for now. It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to watch this.”

[[Image:godless_shinobu.png|50px]]

“I had wondered why a physical fighter like you would have shifted to a focus on spells.”

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“Because physical fighting isn’t enough to support Bil when he fights at that size.”

''That would explain it,'' thought Kuwajiri in belated understanding. ''Knowledge alone isn’t enough,'' she decided. And…

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“Originally, this equipment was meant to fight back against the enemies of the gods and of humanity. But…”

But…

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“After I died, he began using them to help him reach any point in the world. That stubborn and diligent idiot used them to overcome any obstacle in his path. They’ve been his companion longer than I have. So…”

So…

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“I’m glad I get to see this.”

●

Athena looked to the sea.

She realized the island silhouette had vanished.

Where was she?

What sea was this in front of her?

She would know if she turned around. Because she would see the “mainland” there.

But she knew she mustn’t do that.

The waves were constantly crashing in from ahead of her. So…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“I thank you, king of a foreign story. The seaside empress god thanks you.”

Another wave was coming. But she reached out toward it. And…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Time to go.”

●

Athena was undoubtedly using her full power.

Instead of continuing her previous barrage, she gathered it all together and took action.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Prota – Phloga Basileus!”

A rapid heat haze formed a swirling flare in the night, directing it toward the colossus.

That had originally been a long pressure sword. She could easily reach even an enemy taller than 50m.

Reach she did.

She held her Prota – Phloga Basileus on the left. The king’s shield was in his left arm. The Hyper Shield, which had a blue line on it, was powerful, but if it came to an exchange of lefts, the defending king would be at a disadvantage.

His right arm had yet to draw a weapon and he didn’t have time to shift the shield to his right.

So Athena watched what he did instead. He moved…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“His shield!?”

The colossal king swung his shield. The action would not reach her attack. But…

[[Image:godless_gil.png|50px]]

“Purge.”

He blasted the bolts linking the Hyper Shield to his arm and it flew.

The shield soared between the two of them like a giant wall.

But Athena did not hesitate.

She continued swinging Prota – Phloga Basileus.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Ohh!!”

She sent a horizontal blow into the approaching wall.

The great mass produced a deafening clang and flew. It was less like wind and more like the atmosphere being greatly displaced. The river roared like it was being torn from its banks.

Beyond it all, Athena continued moving. She transformed her Piesi Dory back into its spear form.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Piesi Dory!”

The attack’s range was enough to pierce the colossal king. She also knew her authority could reach him.

So this would work. That was her intention as she made the attack.

A moment later, she saw a wave.

[[Image:godless_kawaseirei.png|50px]]

<River, ver.>

It was a river.

Some kind of pressure caused most of the flowing water to surge up and form a great wave against her.

That would not stop her.

She had already released her full strength. Her footing was adequate. The spear’s power activated before the wave could reach her.

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“––––”

She saw something there.

The color white filled the dark night beyond the giant shield flying her way.

It was a white sword over 200m long.

[[Image:godless_eshita_shinken.png|50px]]

“I give short-term permission for Bilgamesh’s 2nd-class White Sword.”

The 200m sword was a double-edged sword specifically designed for the 50m colossus.

This had caused the previous wave. The colossus must have pulled back the sword and secured its footing within the river.

The wave passed Athena by.

The next attack was incoming.

It was a low-altitude tornado strike, but she didn’t hesitate.

She made a straight jab with Piesi Dory and then heard a voice.

[[Image:godless_gil.png|50px]]

“Here I go.”

''Yes,'' she thought.

''This king will continue forward, always challenging whatever lies ahead.

●

The pressure split.

The previously-broken white attack rent the goddess’s authority this time. Because…

[[Image:godless_kuwajiri.png|50px]]

“Was it stability?”

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“It was,” confirmed Ki. “Usually, he launches that giant White Sword while he’s at our size. The slightest error in the angle would cause damage nowhere near his intended target, right?”

[[Image:godless_shifu_akire.png|50px]]

“Yeah, but he still used it against us back at the Showa Weir.”

''Don’t be like that.'' But…

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

That’s why he always sends it straight out, but with that equipment, he can wield and support the White Sword properly. And remember that he ‘sensed’ the gaps in his opponent’s pressure attack before. So now he just had to send the stabilized attack into one of those gaps.”

That was exactly what had happened.

Athena’s pressure attack was a collection of combined attacks, but he had sliced it down the center.

It was the reverse of their previous exchange.

The split pressure had still activated since it was an authority, so…

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“It’s like multiple explosions.”

The heat haze of the pressure attack illuminated the world like fireworks and produced heavy rupturing sounds.

●

Athena looked forward as a wave crashed over her.

She planted her feet down and stood up to find the water wasn’t even hip deep.

That wave shouldn’t have overpowered her. But…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

…''The undertow.

When the sea was even a little bit deep, the currents would differ between the upper and lower layers. She had known that, but she had briefly forgotten.

Why had she?

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“––––––”

Past the water dripping from her hair, she saw the silhouette of an island across the sea.

The sea she had seen before was no longer there. She was wet and chilled. But…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“This isn’t over.”

●

[[Image:godless_gil.png|50px]]

…''Well done.

Bilgamesh realized the battle was over.

Ahead of him, the god of war had lost most of its armor in the multiple pressure explosions.

It was already colored by white armor. The ether fuel splattered against that armor had overheated to the point of emitting a red glow.

She couldn’t possibly move very much. And yet…

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“––––––”

Athena held her shimmering short sword to her right in a two-handed grip.

She intended to keep fighting.

Continuing was meaningless. But…

[[Image:godless_gil.png|50px]]

“You have a reason to keep fighting, don’t you?”

[[Image:godless_athena.png|50px]]

“Thank you.”

He wasn’t going to ask why she was doing this. Her reasons were political, but this was not a place for that. This was a place for two fighters to reach a conclusion they could both accept. So…

[[Image:godless_gil.png|50px]]

“Let’s do this.”

As soon as he said that, Athena took a step forward.

They advanced so they would truly end it this time.

Just then, a whistle sounded and a voice shouted.

Bilgamesh looked back toward the tent to see the human blowing a whistle and the negotiator next to him.

[[Image:godless_tenma.png|50px]]

“That’s enough!!”

She was telling them to stop.

[[Image:godless_tenma.png|50px]]

“This duel has ended in our defeat!!”

===Interlude===

[[Image:godless_eshita_awate.png|50px]]

“Eh!? We lost even though we won!? Then why did I even bother helping!? I stopped eating Karamucho for that!”

[[Image:godless_ki.png|50px]]

“I recommend you reread the last part of your line and rethink your life choices.”

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