Divine Right of a Certain Multiverse, Chapter 47

"Why is Athena following us?"

Alexander Gascoigne was bewildered. He and Roy had both used the Divine Speed Authority to travel from America to Canada in such a short time. Could Athena also possess the Divine Speed Authority?

It wasn't until the Black Prince saw the swarms of snakes emerging from the ground that he suddenly understood. Athena wasn't keeping up with their pace because she had the Divine Speed Authority. Instead, Athena was the Earth Mother Goddess, and she was 'teleporting' using the earth's veins, using Roy as a beacon to keep up with his Divine Speed.

However, even knowing how Athena kept up with his Divine Speed was meaningless now, because that arrow was already approaching his chest.

Alexander Gascoigne was certain that if this arrow pierced his chest, he would be severely injured. In this situation where there was no escape, he would surely die.

Yet, he had no way to dodge. His strongest Divine Speed was restricted by Roy, leaving Gascoigne at his wit's end.

"But even so, I won't let you off easy!"

The Black Prince hardened his heart. He didn't dodge but instead charged headfirst towards the arrow, simultaneously activating his strongest combat Authority—"Vengeance Goddess"!

This was an Authority that Gascoigne had usurped from the Greek Furies, Erinyes. It could summon the three goddesses to create a domain of vengeance, returning all the damage he received. However, this Authority had a major drawback: the user, Gascoigne, had to endure the same damage.

Originally, this was a move that, like Roy's "Divine Right," should only be activated after the opponent unleashed their ultimate attack, in order to reflect it back and win. But at this moment, Gascoigne knew that if he didn't activate the Vengeance Domain now, he might not get another chance!

"Pfft—"

The arrow pierced Gascoigne's chest, but at the same time, the Vengeance Domain was activated, and an identical arrow shot back towards Athena.

"Alecto, Megaera, Tisiphone, it really is the three of you."

Athena looked coldly at the three goddesses summoned by the Black Prince. As the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Athena naturally recognized the Furies.

She stood gracefully atop the giant snake's head, like a blooming flamboyant tree, her amber snake eyes fixed on the god of vengeance, a smile on her lips betraying her ease.

Facing the reflected arrow, Athena was well-prepared. She raised her "Medusa's Shield" and easily blocked the arrow.

"Gascoigne, this 'Vengeance Goddess' is your last resort, isn't it? Summoning the Furies early and having them hide by your side to reflect an enemy's fatal attack is indeed a sinister and useful tactic. However, if your setup is known beforehand, this Authority becomes useless."

Under Roy's "Clairvoyance," all of the Black Prince's moves were known. That was why Roy had Athena shoot that seemingly harmless arrow. The arrow's power wasn't strong, but it was enough to severely injure Gascoigne, forcing him to use this Authority. Although "Vengeance Goddess" was powerful, its very power came with limitations. After using this Authority, Gascoigne couldn't use it again for a short period.

While "Vengeance Goddess" couldn't reflect all attacks, it wasn't like Roy's "Divine Right" which had no limits. Attacks exceeding the "Vengeance Goddess's" limit could still easily break through the Vengeance Domain, but doing so would still reflect the maximum attack the Vengeance Goddess could withstand.

Since there was an easier way to win, Roy naturally wouldn't choose a more difficult path.

Now, with the Vengeance Domain activated, it had only reflected one ordinary arrow from Athena, essentially rendering the Authority useless.

With an arrow stuck in his chest, the Black Prince remained silent. He was gradually finding it difficult to breathe, spitting up blood with every word. Throughout this entire ordeal, this Campione, skilled in schemes and tricks, had been completely calculated and toyed with by Roy. It was truly pathetic.

No matter what kind of schemes or strategies were employed, the most basic requirement was information. Roy's "Clairvoyance" could obtain all of Gascoigne's information, but Gascoigne couldn't get any information about Roy. It was this vast difference in information that led him to be constantly outmaneuvered and utterly unable to retaliate.

This was what Roy considered Solomon's Wisdom!

"It's over, Black Prince! This is your end!"

Roy waved his hand, and the angelic army in the sky transformed into a torrent, forming a killing force that charged towards Gascoigne.

Athena, standing on the mountain, merely raised her head slightly. The Dragon-Serpents also charged into the sky with cruelty and bloodshed to engage in battle.

Surrounded by the angelic army and the Dragon-Serpent army, Gascoigne fled in all directions. The three Furies he had summoned were also swallowed by the masses. Originally, the Furies could still be used as familiars after activating the Vengeance Domain, but in front of the angelic and Dragon-Serpent armies, the familiars formed by the three goddesses could only lament their fate.

However, as a Campione capable of creating miracles, Gascoigne did not give up even when trapped in a desperate situation. Amidst the slashing and biting of the angelic and Dragon-Serpent armies, he, with his severely wounded body, recited another Word Spirit, summoning a giant monster resembling a mermaid.

This was his other Authority, "Faceless Queen"!

Gascoigne's Authorities were almost all related to escape, summoning, and traps; he possessed no direct offensive means.

Seeing the mermaid he summoned, Roy hadn't even made a move yet. Athena, standing atop the giant snake's head, donned her armor, holding a shield in her left hand and a sword in her right. She leaped up, her long sword drawing a dazzling trajectory. With a single strike, she severed the Faceless Queen's head!

How could a mere half-human, half-snake monster possibly be a match for Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War?

Seeing Athena's martial skill, which had reached the divine realm, Roy let out a sigh of admiration. If this martial skill wasn't an innate ability of the God of War, something Athena was born with, rather than something cultivated step-by-step from mortal martial arts, Roy would have already taken her as his master.

With the death of the Faceless Queen and the Furies torn apart by the angelic and Dragon-Serpent armies, the Black Prince was truly out of options this time.

"Roy!"

The stern War Goddess called out. Roy nodded slightly, indicating he understood, and then, cooperating with Athena, they surrounded the Black Prince from front and back, simultaneously activating their demonic eyes.

The snake pupils and the double pupils focused on Gascoigne.

With "Medusa's Eye" in front and "Sodom's Eye" behind, the Black Prince's body underwent a bizarre transformation. From his limbs, the front half turned to stone, and the back half became salt pillars. In the blink of an eye, the utterly exhausted Campione lost his mobility.

Roy calmly approached Gascoigne from behind and raised the Sword of Judgment in his hand. Without regret, without hesitation, he calmly plunged the blood-red cross-shaped longsword into Gascoigne's heart. The Magic Power on the sword erupted, shredding the Campione's internal organs.

Campione, the Demon King of the Earth, Black Prince Alexander Gascoigne—deceased!

Chapter 107: Don't Die, Roy!

Though it seemed complex, in reality, very little time had passed from the Black Prince's appearance to Roy finally pursuing and killing him. This Demon King Campione, who had dominated the world, met his end so cleanly and swiftly.

The Black Prince's Authorities were all related to traps and schemes. His combat style was akin to traditional sorcerers, requiring thorough preparation. Faced with such an unexpected situation, Gascoigne's Authorities were completely ineffective.

The Black Prince's strength also paled in comparison to Marquis Voban. Furthermore, Roy had made significant progress since defeating Marquis Voban, both in his exponentially increased Magic Power and the evolution of his Authorities. With the assistance of a powerful Disobedient God like Athena alone, Roy was able to defeat Gascoigne almost like a swift knife cutting through tofu.

"With this, the world has one less Campione. I think I'm more suited to be the Last King."

Roy pulled the long sword from Gascoigne's chest. At this point, the Black Prince's internal organs were shattered, and he was only sustained by the powerful life force of a Campione. Ordinary magic would be unable to save him; it would require an extremely potent healing Authority, or for Gascoigne to possess a resurrection-type Authority.

However, Roy's Clairvoyance told him that there was currently no Campione in this world who possessed an Authority capable of healing such injuries. Even Lady Aisha's healing Authority had little effect on Campiones, and Gascoigne had no resurrection abilities whatsoever.

"Let's go, Athena!"

Roy called out to Athena and turned to leave first.

After Athena killed the Black Prince, she reverted to her loli form. Her Gorgon Stone also returned to Roy's body. The Goddess of Wisdom opened her mouth as if to speak, but hesitated, ultimately saying nothing as she trotted to catch up with Roy. Once by his side, she glanced at him and asked, "...You're just going to leave them alone like this?"

"Mm, they've been friends for over ten years. For someone who's dying, I should give him a chance to say goodbye to his friend."

Roy knew what Athena was referring to. He gently ran his hand through Athena's silver hair, causing the goddess a moment of displeasure. Then, laughing heartily under her glare, he scooped her up by the waist and flew across the sky.

After Roy and Athena were long gone, a beautiful and elegant lady appeared beside the Black Prince. This was the spectral form of Princess Alice, the White Princess.

"Cough... cough... What are you doing here? Are you going to mock me even in my final moments?"

The Campione's vitality was indeed tenacious. Even with all his internal organs shattered, Gascoigne was clinging to life with his Magic Power, speaking weakly.

"Sigh..."

Alice sighed softly. She moved gracefully to the fallen Gascoigne, lowered her head, and gazed at him, at the pathetic sight of this man's end. Her eyes complex, she asked, "...Are you... regretting it?"

"When did you become so ladylike? Shouldn't you be using your venomous words to mock my overestimation of myself right now? Your current demeanor is making me a bit uncomfortable."

As if experiencing a final surge of energy, a flush spread across Gascoigne's face. He seemed more spirited, and his words flowed more smoothly, his strength returning.

After a pause, the somewhat tsundere Campione set aside his pride, his tone softening considerably. "...Never mind, I don't want to seem pathetic by picking a fight with you at a time like this... Regret? I've never regretted anything, Alice! This is the destiny of a Campione. Death is the end for all Campiones. I'm just reaching that end a little sooner."

"...From the day I became a Campione, I knew I would die. It's just that the manner of my death was somewhat unexpected. I didn't die at the hands of a Disobedient God, nor did I fall to the Last King, but a fellow countryman struck me down."

The Black Prince chuckled self-deprecatingly. "...I'm different from those other thick-skinned Campiones. The moment I learned of the Campiones' existence, I began to wonder why none of the ancient Campiones had survived. Why had they all disappeared? From that day on, I knew that one day, I too would become an insignificant ripple in this world, just like all my predecessors."

"...I was worshipped by thousands when I lived, but I will die in obscurity. Of all the Campiones who have died in the past, who remembers their names now? None. Not a single one. This is the tragedy of Campiones. Even if they are 'Kings' while alive, they leave no trace in history after death."

Alice listened to the Black Prince's rambling without interruption. Although this Black Prince of England couldn't be considered a hero, he had a clear perspective and had lived his life in his own way.

"Time is running out, Alice... I may have caused you a lot of trouble in the past, even nearly killed you several times, but I won't apologize, not even in the final moments of my life. I absolutely... will not apologize..."

The Black Prince's eyelids grew heavier, his vision blurring. His words became intermittent until his strength finally gave out, and his eyes slowly closed.

The Black Prince's breathing went from steady to nonexistent, his body temperature dropping as life faded.

"Even in death, he's still a man concerned with his pride. Really, dying with pride is just suffering."

Alice felt a pang of sadness. While she didn't have much affection for Gascoigne, she didn't dislike him either. Moreover, in the past, Gascoigne had been one of the few people she could bicker with, a friend of sorts. But now, this friend of over ten years had finally departed.

On top of a skyscraper in Manhattan, Roy and Athena stood, watching the battle between Annie Charlton and the Disobedient Leviathan in the distance. This fight between a Campione and a Divine Ancestor who had temporarily regained her divine power was still raging. Roy and Athena had already killed the Black Prince and returned to Manhattan at Divine Speed from Canada.

As Roy and Athena calmly observed the battle ahead, Princess Alice's spectral form also returned from Canada.

The famous European princess showed no trace of sadness on her face, her words light and cheerful. Upon seeing Roy, she pouted playfully, "...Roy, you letting me be alone with Gascoigne in the end, you're generous as a man, but for a girl like me, it's quite sad."

Princess Alice's plaintive voice didn't move Roy at all. He simply smiled and said, "...What's there to be sad about? I gave you a chance to say goodbye to an old friend."

"Wouldn't a normal man be jealous or envious when he cares about a woman? You let me be alone with my 'old flame' and didn't show any jealousy. You also didn't ask what Gascoigne and I talked about when you saw me, which makes me suspect you don't care about me at all."

The beautiful princess, with her golden-blonde hair and delicate features, looked on the verge of tears, appearing pitiful with a sorrowful complaint in her eyes.

Roy ignored her mournful gaze and winked at her. "...Alice, you should think about it from another perspective. This is my trust in you! Besides, since you're already mine, no one can take you away, let alone some mere dead person."

Roy's tone was arrogant, with an undeniable command.

Alice was rendered speechless and chuckled, shaking her head. "...You really are a domineering man. But this is the demeanor a Demon King should have."

With that, the White Princess's smile and mischievousness faded. She stepped forward, took Roy's hands in hers, and her expression gradually turned serious. "...Don't die, Roy! I don't want you to follow the same old path as all the Campiones!"

Alice's tone was sincere, and her beautiful, star-like eyes conveyed deep care and worry.

Gascoigne's words had made her think of something terrible. Since Roy was also a Campione, wouldn't he eventually meet the same inevitable end as all the other Campiones?

Thinking of this, Alice felt fear and anxiety.

Roy's expression softened. Although Princess Alice was currently just a spectral form, he felt as if he could sense the warmth of her palms and her inner fear from her trembling hands. "...I won't die, Alice! That's my promise!"

"Boom----"

Just as Roy finished speaking, a beam of light shot up into the sky from the distant sea, like a nuclear explosion, accompanied by a deafening roar.

Annie Charlton and the Disobedient Leviathan had reached their conclusion.

Chapter 108: I Have a Bold Idea About This White Snake

"Artemis's Arrow." This was Annie Charlton's Authority, her most offensive Authority. Just like Roy's many Authorities, "Artemis's Arrow" also had usage restrictions, typically only usable five or six times a month.

This restriction on her Authority brought with it absolute destructive power. The earth-shattering explosion, the world-destroying might—if Annie Charlton hadn't shot the arrow into the sea, the intensity of that single shot would have been enough to turn Manhattan Island into ruins.

"Phew... it's finally over."

Annie Charlton looked at Anshiela, who was floating on the sea, covered in crisscrossing wounds and completely exhausted, and let out a sigh of relief.

As a Divine Ancestor who had reverted to her Dragon-Serpent form, Anshiela possessed the same power as a Disobedient God. Coupled with her long-held death wish, her fighting had been nothing short of frenzied. Under these circumstances, Annie Charlton had fought cautiously, which was why the battle with Anshiela had dragged on for so long.

Finally, when Anshiela prepared to launch a suicidal, self-detonating attack, Annie Charlton seized the opportunity and pierced her with her "arrow."

"Damn you, damn you!! Damn you, Campione, I'll kill you------"

Anshiela, half-human and half-white snake, let out an enraged roar and curse at Annie Charlton. However, contrary to her flailing, clawing body, her divine power was depleted, and her breathing was weak.

"That's right, I am the Demon King, I am the Campione. Divine Ancestor Anshiela, it's time for your curtain call. Because you forcibly restored your Dragon-Serpent form, you have lost the immortality of a Divine Ancestor. This time, it's goodbye forever!"

Beneath her mask, Annie Charlton's expression was extremely calm. Ignoring Anshiela's ravings, she drew a revolver from her waist.

This revolver was crafted by dwarves from Norse mythology, whom Annie Charlton had commissioned in Yomi. When used by a Campione, it possessed the power to harm Disobedient Gods. Now that Anshiela was severely wounded, it was likely that a single shot would be enough to blow her head off, destroying her body and soul.

Anshiela felt no fear facing the end of her life. If she had been afraid of death, she wouldn't have done any of these things. She merely glared at Annie Charlton and the muzzle of the gun in her hand, contempt flashing in her eyes as she waited for her lifespan to run out.

Just then—

"Hold your fire!"

A loud shout made Annie Charlton stop her action of firing. This was because the person shouting was someone she couldn't ignore.

Putting down her pistol temporarily and turning around, Annie Charlton saw Roy walking across the sea to reach her, with Athena and Alice following him.

"Mr. Roy, what happened in the city earlier? I sensed the appearance of a Disobedient God."

While fighting Anshiela earlier, Annie Charlton, a Campione, had smelled the presence of a Disobedient God. If she hadn't known that Roy, another Campione, was in the city, she would have been in a difficult position, unsure whether to stop Anshiela from destroying Manhattan or to stop the unfamiliar Disobedient God.

Seeing that Manhattan was unharmed, she assumed Roy had driven away the Disobedient God and asked gratefully.

"It was the Divine Ancestor Guinevere and her guardian, Disobedient Lancelot. Oh, right, the Black Prince Alexander Gascoigne also came," Roy said casually.

"I've heard of that English Campione's name for a long time but have never met him. Is he still here?" Annie asked curiously, but her heart grew tense. It seemed like there were too many Campiones, Disobedient Gods, and even a Divine Ancestor gathered in North America right now. With the slightest mistake, even America, the world's strongest nation, could face collapse.

"You'll probably never see him again in this lifetime. He was bothering me, so I killed him."

Roy's casual remark made Annie Charlton's scalp tingle, and cold sweat broke out on her back without her realizing it.

You killed him just because he was bothering you? That was a Campione, and your countryman at that. To kill him for such a reason... just like that?!

In that moment, Annie suddenly felt fortunate. If she hadn't stopped when Roy shouted "Hold your fire" earlier, would this brutal Campione from the Vatican and Italy have taken offense and killed her too?

Although Annie Charlton was confident in her own strength, facing Roy, who had killed Marquis Voban and the Black Prince, two Campiones, she didn't dare to think about winning. Instead, she wondered if she could even escape.

"He... he's already dead, then."