Chapter 52: The Golden Sword and the Godspeed Domain
Verethragna, having activated the incarnation of the [Bull], now possessed immense physical strength, making him nearly invincible in close-quarters combat.
"It is finished!"
As Verethragna made his declaration, his form closed the distance to Shirou in an instant! He threw a punch aimed straight for Shirou's heart; however, Shirou did not dodge, meeting the strike with a punch of his own. At that moment, the violent vibration created a sonic boom in the surrounding air. The two were pushed apart by the shockwave generated from the collision.
"How... You, whose Authorities I sealed... how can you still possess such strength!?"
Verethragna looked at Shirou in disbelief, only to suddenly realize that golden divine power was surging and burning like a wildfire around the Campione.
"This is... divine power!?"
A Campione possessing the power of a god—and such a vast amount of it—as if it had been forcibly torn from the bodies of deities. It was an unthinkable sight. Verethragna stared wide-eyed at Shirou.
"Come, Verethragna! Let's see what else your Golden Sword can cut!"
As Shirou spoke, his body entered the Godspeed Domain, transforming into a streak of golden light that charged directly at Verethragna. Shirou's godspeed now possessed five attributes: Fire, Water, Wind, Thunder, and Darkness. This so-called godspeed was the act of turning into an "elemental state," thereby attaining speed within the domain of divine power.
In Shirou's hand, a pitch-black greatsword appeared. The black blade cracked open as divine power was poured in, and a brilliant golden light erupted from within. It elongated and expanded—the blade of 「Twilight」 transformed into a radiant golden light-sword ten thousand meters long.
"Meet your end, 'War God' Verethragna!"
With this proclamation, Shirou swung down the ten-thousand-meter golden blade that pierced the vault of heaven! Watching the light that outshone the horizon fall, the undefeated War God simply laughed aloud, appearing incredibly free and easy.
"Hahaha! Come! Let my power go with you! With the 'Hero of Steel'—the Last King who takes the slaying of Demon Kings as his duty—as your opponent, my undefeated glory already belongs to you. You shall be—invincible!"
Verethragna laughed as he looked at Shirou, his words carrying through his arrogant laughter. "Tell me your name, O God-slayer who makes the ever-victorious god taste defeat!"
"Shirou Orihara!"
Falling alongside Shirou's voice was the ten-thousand-meter golden light-sword.
BOOM—!!!
The entire sea was split in two by the golden blade in Shirou's hand; a sword beam that divided the ocean extended all the way to the junction of sea and sky in the distance. When the residual divine power finally dissipated, the parted sea suddenly surged with waves a hundred meters high. The War God who once defeated the three-headed demon dragon had been completely annihilated by this golden strike.
There was no need to use 「Doomsday Proclamation」. Shirou had already devoured the divine power of Hephaestus, the "God of Fire and Craftsmen," and Zeus, the "God-King." Devouring gods of the same level or weaker would no longer grant him any growth. Currently, Shirou was more interested in the "Hero of Steel"—the Last King.
After slaying Verethragna, Shirou surveyed his surroundings. The battle just now had destroyed a large portion of the land, but fortunately, this area was far from the towns, so there were no civilian casualties.
At this moment, Melqart looked toward Shirou.
"To be able to defeat that 'War God' Verethragna... I must say, your strength is formidable!"
Melqart raised his club slightly, shifting into a combat stance. The two clubs in his hands represented 「Yagarrish the Chaser」 and 「Ayyamarri the Drive」; in other words, they were alternative manifestations of Melqart's power over storms and lightning. 「Yagarrish the Chaser」 was the storm, and 「Ayyamarri the Drive」 was the thunder. Shirou, during his fight with Verethragna, had also displayed Authorities in the domains of storms and lightning.
"Storms and lightning... your Authorities are meaningless to me," Melqart stated.
"The feeling is mutual."
Shirou shrugged indifferently. After defeating Verethragna, his sealed Authorities had been restored. If he truly had to fight Melqart now, he had absolutely no fear of the god's storms or thunder. Melqart wasted no breath on words; he knew the strength of this Demon King and naturally exerted his full power.
"Rise, violent winds!"
Swinging the club representing 「Yagarrish the Chaser」, a powerful hurricane immediately appeared before Melqart. The hurricane swept through like a natural disaster, uprooting trees and plants and sending them dancing chaotically in mid-air.
"Gallop, lightning!"
Melqart swung the club representing 「Ayyamarri the Drive」, and bolts of lightning instantly descended from the sky, striking toward Shirou.
"You want to compete with me in Authorities of the sky domain? Then have it your way!"
Shirou raised his pitch-black demonic sword, acting like a lightning rod to draw the bolts onto the blade. The azure lightning instantly transformed into gold, and with a swing of Shirou's sword, it turned into a golden slash. The slash left a trail of spreading electricity in the air, looking quite dazzling.
"This old man will not be defeated by you so easily!"
The lightning had been turned against him, which immediately sent Melqart into a rage. As Melqart entered a state of fury, countless lightning bolts crashed down. He swung his two magic clubs, 「Yagarrish」 and 「Ayyamarri」, crossing them in an 'X' shape to intercept the slash with staggering force. The terrifying power whipped up a gale sharp enough to easily level trees and buildings, accompanied by majestic heavenly thunder as it surged toward Shirou.
"You might have used this move to put Verethragna in a difficult spot, but that doesn't mean it will work on me!"
Following Shirou's words, the all-consuming hurricane and lightning instantly vanished. Everything returned to tranquility, as if nothing had happened a moment ago.
"You bastard...!"
Melqart was exasperated by the sight but was utterly helpless.
"Die, 'Melqart the Heretic'!"
With a resounding declaration, Shirou's body entered the godspeed state once more, streaking toward Melqart like a bolt of golden lightning. Shirou's form reached him in an instant, and the greatsword in his hand elongated as the radiant golden light-sword reappeared.
With no time to dodge, Melqart's body was directly cleaved in two!
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