Chapter 26: Abnormality on Tokyo Bay
Above Tokyo Bay, two Campiones stood watching the sea below.
Hikigaya and Alexander were categorized by the Witan Council—the authority on God-slayer research in magical society—as "Modern-type Campiones."
In contrast, Voban of Eastern Europe, Luo Hao of China, and Doni of Italy could be called "Non-modern-type Campiones." They acted like heroes from myth who placed valor as the primary virtue, exuding a beast-like aura and battling deities with raw passion.
Researchers at the Witan Council believed that while Japan's Hikigaya, Britain's Alexander, and America's Bruce each had their own indescribable quirks, they overall retained the characteristics of modern humans. Though they possessed an exuberant fighting spirit, it wasn't that primal, beastly sensation. They employed strategy to a certain extent and acknowledged modern social rules. While they still committed acts of reckless destruction, they were far easier to communicate with than the non-modern types.
Interestingly, the God-slayer the Witan Council understood best wasn't the oldest, Voban, but Alexander.
In the words of a certain former Speaker: Alexander is a strategist with a neurotic personality that overly fixates on details, paired with sharp intuition. Though he lacks the sheer magnitude of Voban, he isn't as unrestrained as Luo Hao, nor as mysterious as Bruce. He is a man with an excellent brain who never uses it for anything "serious."
While clearly tinged with personal bias, this statement accurately described Alexander's traits. He was a guy who cared deeply about the steps and procedures of his actions.
In this regard, Hikigaya quite agreed with him. Whether fighting or working, things needed to be "neat and orderly." That was why he had Liliana investigate the truth; considering how long it had been without results, there was 100% chance of something fishy going on.
But right now, his "serious business" was the stretch of sea beneath their feet.
"It's about time. No ships will pass through the vicinity for now. You can begin." Hikigaya, having scanned the surrounding waters with the Eye of Horus, retracted his Authority and issued an invitation to Alexander that translated to: "Please start your performance."
"Your eyes really are convenient," Alexander said with a hint of envy before taking out his implements.
One was the remains of the Great Mother Goddess. The other was the nail-shaped object he had "borrowed" from the Committee, known by names like Amenonuhoko (Heavenly Jeweled Spear) or Ame-no-nuboko. In Japanese myth, this was the divine artifact used by Izanagi and Izanami to solidify the land. Unfortunately, the size truly didn't match the legend; it had shrunk even further since Hikigaya first saw it, now only about the size of a pen.
However, Alexander held a different view. He believed that, contrary to the myth where this artifact caused islands to float, in actual history, it was used to sink islands.
Alexander first touched the Amenonuhoko to the divine remains. In an instant, the spear—previously only the size of a ballpoint pen—began to expand until it reached the dimensions of a true spear. Seen this way, it was indeed a weapon.
Then, facing the sea below, Alexander hurled the divine spear using his Authority over lightning.
The moment the lightning-clad spear entered the water, it blasted the seawater sky-high. However, the exploded water quickly began to transform. Initially, it changed from colorless, transparent water into a pure white, unknown liquid. Soon, it began to glitter, flashing with different colors in a constant shift of radiance.
When the substance fell back to the surface, it floated like fatty tissue. More of this material bubbled up from where the spear had been cast until a change in quantity triggered a change in quality. Once these fatty substances accumulated to a certain degree, they began to wriggle and turn the color of rock.
Finally, the entire sea was boiling. Rocks continuously erupted, forming one reef after another on the surface, which gradually connected. After about ten minutes, the sea returned to calm, but beneath the feet of Hikigaya and Alexander, an island had risen.
Or, calling it a fortress wouldn't be incorrect either.
Grotesque rocks maintained an upward-thrusting posture, making the island look like a stone castle with a menacing design. Hot steam vented from the gaps between the stones.
While this had zero effect on a Campione, it wouldn't be the same for an ordinary person. And anyone with a brain could guess that if something like this popped up in Tokyo Bay, curious people would surely try to climb it. Neither Hikigaya nor Alexander intended to let ordinary people—or even non-ordinary people—step onto this island at will.
Alexander took action first, making a simple downward-pressing gesture with his hand. A force that could be called a "field" immediately blanketed the surrounding sea and sky. Undetectable to the naked eye of a commoner, the environment around the island was altered.
The sea currents became bizarre, and heavy black clouds began to gather above the island, making the already strikingly designed stone isle look even more terrifying. Under this power, unless it was another Campione of the same level as Hikigaya and Alexander or a Heretic God, there was absolutely no way to approach the island. Ships would lose control and be carried elsewhere by the currents; aircraft would suffer the same fate. Even marine life would be repelled from this zone.
Well, the ones killed during the island's creation didn't count...
Hikigaya took a closer look. He had to admit that Alexander's aesthetic for "building blocks" was terrible. The island had no beauty to speak of. The central area was about fifty to sixty meters high, where the rocks were particularly strange—shaped like a demonic face, as ugly as could be.
So he asked Alexander: "I say, is doing this really going to work?"
According to Alexander, the Queen of Witches firmly believed that the place where the King of the End slumbered was an island in ancient Japan, but it was later sunk using a certain curse by an immortal dwelling in Japan.
Once the Queen of Witches learned of this place, she would undoubtedly bring the key item required to resurrect the King of the End. Even if she were suspicious, this island was something she couldn't ignore; she would jump into the trap even knowing it was one.
"Is this necessary? Why not just kill her directly?"
"I've tried that idea countless times over these ten years, but she is a master at hiding. That's why I've resorted to this method," Alexander shrugged. "Besides, even if I manage to lure her out, having the God guarding her launch a sneak attack from the shadows is a real pain."
'Is that the reason your island is so ugly?' Hikigaya really wanted to ask.
But he also admitted Alexander was right. Back when he played WoW, he hated Rogues the most. The trap was a bit ugly, but if it was practical, it didn't matter. Moreover, a God guarding a Divine Ancestor—he hadn't seen such a combination yet and was genuinely curious.
Though an enemy, in this regard, the King of the End was truly a remarkable fellow.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting