Campione: Strongest# 486: The Collision

"NEIGH!!!"

The resounding whinny echoed across the sky, hoofbeats reverberating like sonic waves through every corner of this altered space, reaching into every living soul's heart.

People on the ground heard the cry and raised their heads in unison, staring at the vast sky in astonishment.

Beneath the blood-red moon's shroud, a sun radiating countless golden rays suddenly appeared, dispersing the cold, deep night and dyeing the sky golden.

Below the sun, a steed wreathed in towering golden flames descended from heaven with piercing cries, bearing the sun on its back as it plummeted.

Lorelei stared at the steed in a daze, murmuring, "A white horse carrying the sun through night skies? Ancient Persia's war god Verethragna... This is his signal??"

Deep in the forest, Gransurg leaped onto a massive tree, his furry lion face bathed golden as he spoke with fervor:

"Such sublime divinity—the authority of a sun god? That gentleman has sent quite the remarkable signal!"

Sion stood in the highway's center, raising her right hand level with her eyebrows, her purple eyes filled with disbelief. "A steed bearing the sun? That's not the rumored trinity of the Divine King, is it?"

After a moment's thought, Sion abandoned pursuing the truth. Which deity this sublime divinity originated from no longer mattered—as long as they were allies, it was enough to boost morale.

Even atheist magi naturally felt their spirits soar thinking a deity stood on their battle line.

"Wait, that's—!" Suddenly Sion's expression changed drastically, staring upward in disbelief.

The steed bearing the golden sun, wreathed in towering flames amid its whinnying, plummeted straight toward the blood-red moon!

In everyone's vision, the sun continuously expanded, instantly occupying half of Tokyo. The massive celestial body seemed intent on destroying both the blood moon and the 600-square-kilometer metropolis together, descending with terrifying heat and mass.

At that moment, the millions of Dead Apostles wandering Tokyo's streets collectively went limp, suddenly collapsing.

The red moon hanging in the sky suddenly emanated a nauseating, eerie red light. The crimson radiance directly dispersed the golden light at heaven's edge.

To the magi's astonishment, the red moon suddenly swelled several times its size, rushing upward toward the sun.

The two massive celestial bodies collided in an instant!

—BOOM!!!

The deafening explosion erupted. Massive shockwaves spread violently—every skyscraper's windows in Tokyo shattered instantly, the streets becoming carpeted with glass shards.

The clouds above Tokyo were obliterated by the violent impact, revealing the gorgeous starry river beyond space. For a moment—cloudless for thousands of miles.

"BZZZZ—!!!"

Even with their hearing sealed, the magi on the ground were still left dizzy by the terrifying shockwave, grimacing as they clutched their ringing ears.

After the shockwave passed, Lorelei's, Gransurg's, and Sion's gazes flickered uncertainly. As magi, they clearly understood that Dead Apostles' physical abilities generally exceeded humans'.

But now, while even humans suffered from that horrific impact, Dead Apostles with far superior hearing would only fare worse.

Realizing this, all three immediately used magecraft to transmit their voices into their association members' minds:

"Prepare your Mystic Codes—all units attack!"

—————

Chiyoda Ward's Imperial Palace

This ancient courtyard, overrun by Dead Apostles in the first moments, was now wrapped in crimson demon forest.

In the main courtyard, a dark figure leaned against a cherry tree with blood-red petals, looking helplessly at the vast starry sky.

"Sigh~ Outplayed by one move. That one really has quite the collection of trump cards... Fine, I'll gather a few more cards before dealing with this tough opponent."

—————

Misaki City, Reien Academy Dormitory

Looking at the Authority crystal in his hand, shattered and scattered by blood-red fluorescence, Haru narrowed his eyes, coldly watching the crystal fragments in his palm.

"A counterattack combining the power of 15 million Dead Apostles? So the Dark Six purpose in increasing Dead Apostle numbers was for this effect."

"...The Dead Apostle side's Counter Force..." Haru gazed at distant Tokyo, his voice grave.

—————

On the Shinfunabori Bridge between Edogawa and Sumida Wards

A black Mercedes wrapped in azure light sat parked at the bridge's center. By the sedan's four open doors, four figures raised their heads, watching the starry sky.

"Oh~ Such sublime divinity..." Brad's voice came out like he was in heat.

Beside him, Altrouge, Black Knight Strout, and Primate Murder—thoroughly used to this—all looked at this pervert with contempt.

This guy didn't dare act up in front of Haru, but behind his back constantly made such disgusting sounds, as if unable to forget Haru.

"Maintain the bounded field properly, Brad." Looking at the turbulent azure ocean surrounding them, Altrouge covered her forehead in frustration.

Though the Dark Six control frequently affected even Dead Apostle Ancestors, under the combined assault of Brad's Reality Marble—Ghost Fleet—and her own near-True Magic contract concepts, it had weakened considerably.

Through willpower honed over millennia of killing, the four had successfully blocked Six Royalty's control—but only if Brad maintained the bounded field properly...

Otherwise, while half-Dead Apostle Altrouge and non-Dead Apostle Primate Murder might be fine, Brad and Strout would suffer.

"This is troublesome!" Strout, gripping the demonic sword True Demon, looked at the Dead Apostles continuously surging up from the bridge, sighing helplessly.

Maintaining a Reality Marble required massive magical energy. Even Brad could only sustain it for three days at most—less with combat. And now, the enemy clearly intended to drain their magical energy with fodder.

"No choice—I'll have to act." Altrouge frowned delicately, reluctantly rolling up her black Lolita dress sleeves, revealing pale, delicate hands beneath.

Compared to Brad maintaining the bounded field, Primate Murder with the strongest individual combat power, and Strout with the best technique, only she—the Black Princess with infinite magical energy while touching earth—was suited for clearing these small fry.

Just then, a drowsy female voice spoke with heavy negative emotions, speaking mournfully:

"...Wine, give me wine. How can I win against the Black Princess? Just let me get drunk to death~"

Hearing this voice, Altrouge and the others' expressions changed.

The calm river surface beneath the Bridge slowly began flowing backward.