Chapter 14: The Power of the Prometheus’ Grimoire (Patreon)

"Of course. It's not often you descend, after all. I can wait a few days. After all, looking at your current state... well, let's just say you're not at your peak."

Verethragna possessed ten avatars, each a separate authority. At that moment, several of these divine beast avatars were scattered across the island.

In the original timeline, it took at least a full day for Verethragna to gather all his avatars and return to his strongest form.

"My thanks. I accept thy courtesy. However... do not underestimate Me."

Verethragna didn't refute the point, acknowledging that he wasn't in his best condition.

Yet, his expression showed not a trace of panic or retreat. Even with only a few authorities remaining, he was still a Heretical God!

"I look forward to our battle when next we meet!"

After giving Haru one last, deep look, Verethragna's form dissolved into a powerful gust of wind and vanished.

From start to finish, Kusanagi Godou had stood to the side, merely a spectator. It wasn't until Verethragna left that he finally approached.

"Friend?"

Godou asked, confused. He knew Haru wasn't ordinary, and the boy who had just left was clearly not a normal person either.

Since they were talking in Japanese he could understand the language but at the same time he couldn't understand what were they talking about.

"Here."

"Th-Thank you!"

"..."

Instead of answering, Haru simply tossed the stone slab back to Godou.

Caught off guard, Godou fumbled clumsily, ultimately failing to catch it. The slab clattered onto the concrete pavement.

As if it were made of brittle plaster, falling from just over a meter high was enough to cause the slab's corner to chip and crumble.

"Whoa?!"

Seeing this, Godou grew intensely anxious, worried he had broken the slab for good.

But he failed to notice that several faint, blurred finger marks now marred the once-pristine surface. Its mysterious aura had vanished, and the slab looked dull and utterly ordinary.

It was as if a divine artifact had been tarnished, its brilliance extinguished.

Oblivious to all this, Godou assumed the damage was his own fault from dropping it. He carefully picked it up, wiped it off, and gently placed it into his backpack.

"ROAR—"

"BOOM!!"

"Crap, now's not the time for this!"

The roar and ensuing explosion snapped Godou out of his thoughts. Without another word, he turned and sprinted toward the direction of the giant boar.

As for Haru?

Godou knew he was no ordinary person, so he was definitely safer than he was.

Heh... So this is the power contained within the slab? I'll store it for now.

Watching Godou's retreating figure, Haru closed his eyes. In his mind's eye, he could see the illusory form of the stone slab slowly merging into the great disc within his soul. A faint smile touched his lips as he opened his eyes.

He hadn't expected that the great disc he possessed could even usurp the power of the Prometheus' Grimoire.

This was truly remarkable!

Without the Prometheus' Grimoire, Kusanagi Godou's path to becoming a Campione was effectively severed—at the very least, he would have no part in the events unfolding now.

Since he cherished "peace" so much, he could remain an ordinary Japanese high school student!

In good spirits, Haru didn't linger. He pushed off from the ground with his foot and soared into the air.

Without any running start, he leaped, arcing over the town. His body glided through the air like a parabola.

His jumps were like meteors; his flight, like a magical bird.

As if using an invisible hang glider, he landed on the roofs of buildings, only to "take flight" again, alighting on a streetlamp.

With superhuman lightness and leaping ability, he moved rapidly from one high point to another, outpacing even the vehicles speeding on the streets below.

"What?!"

This scene was witnessed by the running Kusanagi Godou on the ground. Watching Haru move through the sky as lightly as a feather, sometimes gliding, sometimes leaping, made him feel like he was in a wuxia movie.

Could this be the legendary Martial artist?

Even when massive boulders, dislodged by the giant boar, hurtled toward Haru, he merely met them with a gentle palm strike.

But to Godou's utter astonishment, those boulders—each large enough to crush him into paste—seemed to offer no resistance under Haru’s palm.

With just a soft, seemingly effortless push, the giant stones shattered one after another, exploding into clouds of dust in the sky.

How is this even possible?

So cool! And so unbelievably strong!

So the martial arts in the movies weren't fake after all?

Who hasn't dreamed of being a martial arts hero? Even Kusanagi Godou, as a Japanese youth, was no exception. After all, Japan is right next to China, and it's only natural for Chinese culture to have a profound influence there.

Wuxia films had enjoyed a period of great popularity in Japan as well.

So, seeing Haru scaling walls and gliding through the air with such effortless grace, Godou felt his heart stir intensely.

Don't get the wrong idea—what stirred wasn't about Haru himself, but his "Martial art." He couldn't help but imagine how amazing it would be if he could do the same!

Unfortunately, after a few more seemingly weightless steps through the air, Haru vanished from sight entirely, leaving a deeply envious Godou to continue his frantic run through the streets alone.